# Baby killer gets 8 years, possibly even less **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 12, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682 "2003-12-12T22:53:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/1 "2003-12-12T22:53:51Z")
This fucking enrages me. People like this should die a fucking painful death.[http://www.news.com.au/common/story\_page/0,4057,8140887^26462,00.html](http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8140887%5E26462,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/2 "2003-12-13T00:12:44Z")
Hey look, something bad happened in the world today, let’s start a pit thread! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/3 "2003-12-13T00:15:40Z")
What the fuck are we supposed to put in the Pit? Cookie recipes? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/4 "2003-12-13T00:17:00Z")
Only if they are _evil_ coookie recipes that deserve to die. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/5 "2003-12-13T00:23:02Z")
By the way … [This seems to be the link that was pooched in the OP.](http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8140887%5E26462,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/6 "2003-12-13T00:24:07Z")
[Here is a working link](http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8140887%255E26462,00.html), should anyone require it. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/7 "2003-12-13T00:25:51Z")
Well, you may be a bit faster than I am, **Jack** , but at least that post gave me a higher count than you. Neener neener. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/8 "2003-12-13T00:26:25Z")
By the way part II: Holy fuck!! That’s sickening. Manslaughter, schmanslaughter. Painful notwithstanding – the death penalty was made for crimes like this. There is no way anyone who could do this deserves to share my planet. He defaulted on his warranty. His ticket has been voided. Sorry. Thanks for playing, you gotta go now. Disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/9 "2003-12-13T00:27:11Z")
:smack: I must be crosseyed. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/10 "2003-12-13T00:35:05Z")
The death penalty was abolished in Australia a long time ago **Jack Batty** and very few of us want it back, even for scum like this. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/11 "2003-12-13T00:40:34Z")
more stories from non-tabloid sources [The New South Wales Opposition is questioning both the sentence and legal process of a case in which a man received 11 years’ jail for the death of a seven-month-old baby.](http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/riverina/regriv-12dec2003-1.htm) [Family shocked at baby killer’s sentence](http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/riverina/regriv-11dec2003-6.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/12 "2003-12-13T00:44:36Z")
Far be it from me to flaunt in the face of Australia’s rules. 'Twere it up to me, I’d pull his plug. As it is, I’d think he should at least spend the rest of his life in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/13 "2003-12-13T01:22:19Z")
Christ almighty, he crushed the baby’s toes one by one with a clamp. I cannot imagine a punishment too bad for this utter filthbag. I hesitate to consider it human. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/14 "2003-12-13T01:31:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > **Christ almighty, he crushed the baby’s toes one by one with a clamp.** Holy shit. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/15 "2003-12-13T01:39:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rhum Runner \* > \*\*Hey look, something bad happened in the world today, let’s start a pit thread! \*\* ```auto _____ |_ _| n |:rolleyes::rolleyes:| n H _|\_/|_ H nHnn/ \___/ nHn \ __\/| |\/__ / ``` Let’s crush your toes one by one with a clamp and see if you feel like starting a pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/16 "2003-12-13T01:40:30Z")
Hey, WorldEater! I’ve agreed with you now in _two_ threads. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/17 "2003-12-13T02:52:27Z")
> [@](#): > > But Acting Justice Jeffrey Miles sentenced Hoerler to a maximum 11 years in jail with a minimum term of eight years and three months. He said that to impose any more was “far beyond the range of sentences established by past sentencing practice in this court in recent years”. > > Sentences of less than 25 years were imposed for murder and it would be “entirely against the tradition and history of the criminal law” to treat a murder as less serious than manslaughter, except in exceptional circumstances, he said. What a fuckwit. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 25 years, and Hoerler was prepared to serve it – but Hizzoner unilaterally decides that some other judge’s lowest sentence for murder should be the maximum sentence for manslaughter. Against all reason, against the legislated will of the people, against the obvious fact that this WAS the most exceptional of circumstances, an ACTING justice has turned precedent on its head and committed a gross injustice – because it’s what he thinks is “right.” ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/18 "2003-12-13T03:55:42Z")
This is the sort of thing that makes moderates vote Republican, y’know… (if it were in the US, that is – there’s no shortage of similar cases over here) ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/19 "2003-12-13T04:51:02Z")
Hmm. Torturing babies… voting Republican. Getting off with a light sentence… voting Republican. I can almost see a connection, but I don’t think it’s the one you intended. 😉 Do the Seattle Democrats run on a pro-baby-torture platform or something? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682/20 "2003-12-13T04:56:33Z")
Sorry, was that so far out there? I tend to think of light-sentencing judges in heinous cases like this as liberals, the “it’s not his fault, it was the way he was raised” types. But I guess conservative judges might also make the same sort of error from time to time, I don’t really know. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-killer-gets-8-years-possibly-even-less/218682.md?page=2)