Bill to stop murderers and rapists getting 40 per cent sentence discounts for early guilty pleas will pass State Parliament
Legislation to stop murderers and rapists from receiving large sentencing discounts will pass State Parliament after support from the Government and Opposition.
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Legislation that will stop murderers, rapists and other serious offenders from receiving sentencing discounts of up to 40 per cent when they enter early guilty pleas will be passed by State Parliament.
The State Government’s bill to slash penalty discounts was quickly passed by the Lower House on Tuesday.
It came after the Opposition announced it will support the legislation to enable it to expeditiously move through parliament.
It paves the way for a smooth passage through the Upper House, after which it will become law.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said Labor wanted the legislation passed as soon as possible.
“What South Australians want is legislation passed to address this injustice that leaves so many victims wondering about the safety of the community at large, including whether or not they get access to justice themselves,” he said.
“They’re less concerned about if its Labor’s idea or the Liberals’ idea – they just want to get the bill passed.”
Labor introduced a similar bill into Parliament in July this year but it was voted down at the time.
Under the Government’s proposed laws, the sentencing discount for serious indictable offences when a guilty plea is entered within four weeks of the first court appearance will reduce from up to 40 per cent to up to 25 per cent.
When a guilty plea is entered after the first four weeks but on the day of, or before, the committal appearance, a defendant can receive a sentencing discount of up to a 15 per cent, down from up to 30 per cent.
A 20 per cent discount for entering a guilty plea from the day after the committal appearance until the defendant is committed to stand trial will be dropped to a 10 per cent discount.
And those who enter a guilty plea between being committed to stand trial and immediately after the first arraignment date will be eligible for up to a five per cent discount, reduced from 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, a 10 per cent discount for those who plead guilty after the first arraignment date but before the trial starts will be dropped to a five per cent discount.
Sentencing laws have been thrust into the spotlight in recent months after serious offenders have received large discounts for entry guilty pleas early.
Hamzeh Bahrami, who, in 2019, lured a 10-year-old to a public toilet block in Blair Athol and sexually assaulted her, received a 40 per cent discount for pleading guilty early to four counts of indecent assault and false imprisonment.
And both Geoffrey Adams, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for killing his wife more than 45 years ago at Maitland, and Pawel Klosowski, who pleaded guilty to murdering his son Lukasz Klosowski, 19, and Lukasz’ girlfriend Chelsea Ireland, also 19, near Millicent last month, could both be eligible for a 40 per cent discount.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the legislation “puts the protection of the community at the heart of sentencing laws after the former Labor Government’s discount of sentences for early guilty pleas shifted the balance in favour of serious criminals”.