Gerard Baden-Clay murder conviction downgraded: Community outrage

A JUDGE’S decision to downgrade Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction has sparked fury across Australia, with prominent personalities weighing in on the verdict.

Pic 3 for Sunday. Allison and Gerard Baden Clay . Must blur/cut other people in this photo

A JUDGE’S decision to downgrade Gerard Baden-Clay’s murder conviction has sparked fury across Australia.

Prominent media personalities, seasoned court reporters and the Australian community have voiced their outrage at the decision on social media, many saying it is a blow to domestic violence awareness campaigns.

Baden-Clay sensationally had his conviction for his wife’s murder set aside and replaced with a manslaughter conviction in the Court of Appeal this morning.

MORE:

Rolling coverage: What happened at the court house

The appeal: Read the full Gerard Baden-Clay judgement

Special feature: Courier-Mail journalists reflect on the Baden-Clay case

Chief Justice Catherine Holmes, Justice Hugh Fraser and Justice Robert Gotterson delivered their decision four months after the former real estate agent argued his murder conviction was unreasonable.

So #BadenClay changes his story after month on witness stand denying involvement in Alison's death. Now says "unintentional death"...& wins.

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) December 8, 2015

Baffled by the basis for #badenclay appeal win. Can the prosecution take it higher? If he admits guilt, shouldn't at best he get a retrial?

— Juanita Phillips (@Juanita_Phillip) December 8, 2015

Shocked and not a little disgusted at the #badenclay appeal result. A woman is dead - how is that not murder? #endviolenceagainstwomen

— Victoria Hannaford (@vhannaford) December 8, 2015

I'll never understand why you can argue one case at trial and another, totally different one, on appeal. #badenclay https://t.co/qsqbbUGH7D

— Sean Fewster (@SeanFewster) December 8, 2015

#BadenClay case raises serious issues: how can defendant deny all knowledge on trial under oath - then win appeal, conceding involvement?

— Kristy Mayr (@KristyMayr7) December 8, 2015

If the conviction of #BadenClay for murder is 'unreasonable' - then it is reasonable to kill a women #endviolenceagainstwomen

— Rambutan Chutney (@SuDharmapala) December 8, 2015

Justice Fraser ordered submissions to be prepared in January for resentencing.