Homicide Victim Support Group calls for sentencing overhaul after Hillier triple murder case

A VICTIMS’ group has renewed calls for a sentencing overhaul after a man who brutally killed a mother and two children received less jail time than SA’s last triple murderer.

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THE entire community will feel let down by the 30-year sentence handed to triple murderer Steven Peet, according a major victim support group.

Labelling the sentence as “a joke,” Homicide Victim Support Group spokeswoman Sharon McKell said it highlighted the need for urgent changes to sentencing legislation to ensure those convicted of multiple murders were “punished accordingly”.

Donna Rigney, mother of Hillier murder victim Yvette Wilson-Rigney with a victim support officer outside court on Friday. Picture: Dylan Coker

“This sentence means Peet is actually getting just 10 years for each murder,’’ she said.

“This is what the relatives of the Kapunda murders were outraged over and now Peet has been given less than the one handed down in that case.

“This really is a joke.’’

An emotional Donna Rigney, mother of victim Yvette Wilson-Rigney, outside court on Friday. Picture: Greg Higgs

Prior to the election the group sent a letter to the leaders of each party requesting legislative change in a number of areas, including sentencing of offenders convicted of multiple killings.

The group wants a mandatory minimum consecutive term introduced in such cases that would see an offender sentenced for the first murder and then receive a mandatory minimum term of 10 years added for each additional murder.

Ms McKell said the group strongly felt anyone convicted of multiple murders should be sentenced on the first at the existing regime — a 20-year minimum term — and then be given another 10 year term for each additional murder.

This is what the relatives of the Kapunda murders were outraged over and now Peet has been given less than the one handed down in that case

“If this was applied in this case he would be serving a minimum of 40 years,’’ Ms McKell said.

“I think the community, just like his victim’s family, will feel somewhat let down by what has happened.

“They would like people such as this to be punished accordingly.’’

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the requests would be examined by the party room once parliament returned in May before any decision on amendments would be considered.

Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson and her children Amber Rose Rigney, 6, and Korey Lee Mitchell, 5. Picture: Supplied

She said she understood the angst the relatives of the victims in the Peet case felt “particularly because there were children involved’’ and the fact Peet only admitted his guilt late in the proceedings.

“It would compound the hurt of this family,’’ she said.

A number of the proposed new measures requested by the group would relate directly to Ms McKell’s her daughter’s case, which remains unsolved despite police having a strong suspect.

Steven Graham Peet has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Emma Pawelski, 30, was last seen alive on November 26, 2005. Her body was found in the Mt Crawford forest eight days later.

Major Crime detectives have a suspect and believe others assisted him to dump Emma’s body in the forest, using a red Ford Telstar sedan.

The group wants new offences and penalties introduced for those who conceal a death or assist an offender.