Vyleen White killer's ‘unacceptable’ sentence could be appealed, Premier David Crisafulli declares
The Queensland government may challenge the “unacceptable” sentence handed to Vyleen White's teenage killer, who could walk free in less than 10 years.
The sentence handed down to the teen who killed Vyleen White is unacceptable, Premier David Crisafulli has declared, with the government to discuss an appeal.
The teen was sentenced to 16 years’ prison for murdering the beloved grandmother, but will serve only 60 per cent, or less than 10 years.
Leading criminologist Terry Goldsworthy said it was ridiculous the teen had to serve only 60 per cent, considering the circumstances of the case.
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“This is the problem. This is why we now have the ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws, because under those laws, this offender would have got mandatory life, as they should,” he said.
The Crisafulli government’s “adult crime, adult time” laws – which has since been adopted by Victoria – were put in place last Christmas but were not retrospective.
Mr Crisafulli said the sentencing decision was not good enough for the White family and said there would be discussions with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington.
When asked if the Attorney-General will consider appealing the sentence, Mr Crisafulli said “we’ll be discussing that”.
“They’re people I feel very close to, by the way, I think they’re great humans,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“It’s not acceptable, and nothing ever will be for them, and justifiably, they lost everything in that moment.
“And I make the observation that under the new laws, it’s a minimum mandatory life in prison for murder and long may that continue.”
Criminal lawyer Bill Potts said the sentence was a reflection of the court balancing the competing interests of the individual and society as a whole.
Lee Lovell, whose wife Emma was killed by a teenager in a home invasion on Boxing Day in 2022, said he didn’t understand why the teen who killed Mrs White was set to be released after serving 60 per cent of his sentence.
“I don’t understand why it’s automatically given as opposed to earned,” he said.
“It’s not even parole, it’s just a release order. You’re just released, what’s the incentive to do the right thing and be a better functioning human of society?”
But he said the sentence was never going to be good enough for a family going through grief.
“Even if you’re going to get a life sentence, I just don’t think that ultimately anything will ever feel good enough for what’s happened,” Mr Lovell said.
“I just hope at some point, a bit like myself, they try and find some acceptance with what’s happened today, really, and sort of be at peace with that.”
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