Former top cop, commissioner hits out at ‘disgraceful’ sentence of Geelong killer Bailey Clifford

The widow of Paul Grapsas has asked the state’s lead prosecutor to reconsider a decision not to appeal his killer’s sentence, as a former crime commissioner and top cops hits out.

Paul Grapsas' wife Jessica Grapsas, supported on either side by her parents, have been left devestated by a sentence imposed on his killer, Bailey Clifford.

The widow of Paul Grapsas has begged the state’s top prosecutor to reconsider a decision not to appeal his killer’s prison term that could see him walk free in four years.

The Geelong community has been left outraged by an eight-and-a-half year sentence imposed on Bailey Clifford after he stabbed the father-of-three to death with a knife in 2023.

Clifford, who spent more than a year in custody awaiting trial for murder, will now be eligible for parole in 2029.

Greg Davies, who was the first Victorian Commissioner for Victims of Crime and a police officer for 37 years, has called out the courts sentence of waterfront killer Bailey Clifford.

Former Victims of Crime Commissioner, and ex-top cop, Greg Davies slammed the jail term and a limp response from the Office of Public Prosecution which on Tuesday decided there was no grounds for appeal despite an impassioned plea from the Grapsas family.

“That family is now trying to deal with the court’s belief that the value of this father’s life is worth just eight years and six months, and his killer could be out in four,” Mr Davies said.

“This offender will come out of prison with 50 years of life ahead of him, while Paul’s wife and kids will have 40 or 50 years of sadness every time there is a birthday.

“It’s not right.”

Mr Grapsas’ wife, Jessica Grapsas, who demanded the OPP appeal the sentence imposed by Justice Rita Incerti in the Supreme Court, said she felt “let down” by a “sloppy” justice system.

She said the Director of Public Prosecutions, Brendan Kissane KC, had deemed “on three occasions” sufficient grounds for Clifford to be found guilty of murder up until the day of an expected jury trial, before he accepted a plea deal for manslaughter.

The OPP said a review had determined Clifford’s sentence was not manifestly inadequate, meaning he could be back on the streets before his 24th birthday.

He stabbed Mr Grapsas to death seven times using a large fishing knife three months after a magistrate spared him jail for knife crimes across Geelong.

Bailey Clifford used a filleting knife to stab Paul Grapsas to death.

Ms Grapsas said there was still time for the OPP “to do the right thing” and appeal, with a deadline set for May 14.

“It is not over until it’s over, clearly we would like them to reconsider,” she said.

“This case had good justification for murder up until the day of the trial, so how do we get a sentence like this?

“It is one third of the maximum sentence for manslaughter.”

Mr Kissane has been contacted for comment amid calls for a public explanation “in simple terms” why the sentence was fair.

A petition, launched by the Grapsas family demanding such action and other reforms, has attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

An OPP spokeswoman said on Wednesday “we have nothing further to add”.

It comes as homicide detectives involved in the prosecution have been left frustrated by the sentence, according to police sources.

Greg Davies..

Clifford, then 18, tried to conceal his crime, changing his clothes and phones in the wake of the bloody slaying.

He was arrested five days after Mr Grapsas body was found next to his car near his waterfront home on Western Beach Rd.

Mr Davies, who also served as the Victorian Police Association Secretary, said the lenient sentence was another frustrating example of a broken system.

Ms Grapsas called it a slap in the face to the tireless work of the police force.

“It doesn’t give enough weight to the work that has gone into this investigation, it gives them no credit at all,” she said.

“Police do all the hard work and arrest these criminals then everything changes when they go before our courts.”

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Originally published as Former top cop, commissioner hits out at ‘disgraceful’ sentence of Geelong killer Bailey Clifford