Family’s outrage as teen killer launches appeal

The loved ones of a slain teen murdered in a stabbing altercation have shared their outrage at one of the killers’ decisions to appeal his sentence.

A man convicted of murdering a teenager during a violent stabbing attack on the Gold Coast has lost an appeal against his sentence.

The sudden legal move on Friday outraged the grieving parents of Jack Beasley, less than a year after they watched their boy’s killers go to jail.

Jack, 17, died from fatal stab wounds after being set upon by a group of teenagers outside a convenience store in Surfers Paradise on December 13, 2019.

Last year, one of the boys – aged 15 at the time – was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to murder.

Brett and Belinda Beasley celebrated upon learning the man who murdered their son Jack in 2019 was unsuccessful in the appeal against his sentence on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Brett Beasley voiced his outrage at the teen killer’s attempt to appeal his sentence less than a year after he was sent to jail. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Jack’s family voiced their outrage at the teen’s decision to appeal the sentence, which later turned to relief after the appeal was dismissed that same morning.

“He got what he deserved, as far as we’re concerned,” a relieved Mr Beasley said after the appeal hearing.

“I’m speechless at the moment … he’s staying in jail, where he belongs.”

One of the teenagers convicted of killing Jack had pleaded guilty to murder, while the other, 17, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Because they were under 18 at the time of the attack, they cannot be identified under Queensland law.

Two other teenagers and a third man, Ma-Mal-J Toala, were found not guilty of Jack’s manslaughter in a judge-only trial last year.

Jack Beasley (pictured with his father Brett) was fatally stabbed during a brawl with a group of teenagers in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Facebook

During Friday’s hearing, the Court of Appeal was told it was “not open” to the judge who sentenced the teenager that there were no special circumstances.

Defence barrister Andrew Hoare said his client had no criminal history and had taken actions like surrendering to police and writing a letter expressing remorse.

He argued the accumulation of the matters ought to have constituted special circumstances.

“There was nothing to indicate a need to keep this boy in custody to protect the community,” Mr Hoare said.

“The sentence doesn’t end at his release on parole, he is under supervision.”

The Beasleys said they did not believe their son’s murderer was truly sorry, following the appeal being dismissed on Friday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

But the Crown said there were no special circumstances in place, telling the court the sentencing judge did not lose sense of the “serious nature” of the offences.

“It caused the loss of one life, and almost the loss of another’s life,” crown prosecutor Sarah Dennis said.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the application.

Outside, Mr Beasley said he didn’t believe there were no special circumstances present in the appellant’s case.

“He should be doing 10 years,” he said.

“He’s a grub, a murderer. That’s all there is to it.”

Jack Beasley’s death led to a raft of new laws being introduced to combat knife crime in Queensland. Picture Facebook

Jack’s killing led to an outpouring of grief and a “heightened sense of fear” in the Gold Coast community.

It was also a flashpoint for knife crime in Queensland, leading to the creation of new laws allowing police to stop people and use a metal detecting wand on them.

During a wanding trial between May 2021 and November 2022, 241 weapons were seized – including flick knives, machetes and knuckledusters.

More than 600 people were charged with criminal offences.

Originally published as Family’s outrage as teen killer launches appeal