SA court rejects Charles Alexander Cullen’s appeal against eight-year term for supplying gun that killed teenager Lewis McPherson

THE supplier of the weapon that killed teenager Lewis McPherson has lost his appeal against his sentence — a challenge filed after he reneged on a public vow to accept “any punishment”.

MURDERER'S HANDGUN

THE supplier of the weapon that killed teenager Lewis McPherson has lost his appeal against his sentence — a challenge filed after he reneged on a public vow to accept “any punishment”.

In a unanimous decision today, the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected Charles Alexander Cullen’s appeal against his eight-year jail term for drugs and firearms offences.

The decision brings the saga surrounding Mr McPherson’s murder to an end, 28 months after the teenager was gunned down by a drunken, drugged killer.

Mr McPherson’s father, Mark, was working in Port Lincoln today and unable to attend the hearing.

Contacted by The Advertiser, he hailed the court’s ruling as “fantastic”, saying it had “made my day”.

“This really does bring it all to an end, and that’s really good ... I’m pleased with this result,” he said.

“It would have been a shame for it to have ended in a reduction in sentence.”

As revealed exclusively by The Advertiser, police charged Cullen with supplying the .22 calibre handgun Liam Humbles used to murder Mr McPherson and shoot at two of his friends.

Humbles — who is serving a 17-year non-parole period for his crimes — habitually carried the weapon “for protection”, and was drunk and drugged the night of the murder.

Prior to sentencing, Cullen apologised to Mr McPherson’s family and said he was “prepared for any punishment” — he was jailed, in October, for eight years.

Following the murder, the State Government proposed new laws that would see illegal gun sellers prosecuted as accomplices to the crimes committed with their weapons.

It would leave an offender like Cullen liable to a maximum life sentence.

Soon after, Cullen reversed his stance and filed an appeal against his sentence, dubbing it “harsh” and “excessive”.

Today, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis and Justices Tom Gray and Tim Stanley refused Cullen’s appeal and order his sentence stand as imposed.

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