Harriet Wran sentenced to four years jail for her role in murder of drug dealer Daniel McNulty

HARRIET Wran’s sentence for harbouring a killer was ­reduced because of the impact media coverage of the crime had on her reputation.

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HARRIET Wran’s sentence for harbouring a killer was ­reduced because of the impact media coverage of the crime had on her reputation.

Justice Ian Harrison, in fixing a two-year non-parole ­period that means Wran is free to leave prison in 17 days with time served, yesterday said press coverage of the former NSW premier’s daughter gave rise to “the unavoidable ­spectre of enduring damage to her reputation”.

The judge fixed a term of one year for harbouring and maintaining her boyfriend ­Michael Lee after he murdered Daniel McNulty, which will run concurrently with a two-year minimum term for robbery in company.

Harriet Wran leaving King St Court yesterday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Jill Wran arrives in court to support her daughter Harriet. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

A total sentence of four years was fixed.

“In my opinion the publication of these egregious articles warrants the imposition of a sentence that takes account of Ms Wran’s continuing exposure to the risk of custodial retribution, the unavoidable spectre of enduring damage to her reputation and an impeded recovery from her ongoing mental health and drug-related problems,” Justice Harrison said in his judgment of the 28-year-old, referring to several articles published by The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph.

“It is submitted on behalf of Ms Wran that this ­publicity has been ­humiliating for her and has caused her immense psychological distress in her already vulnerable condition.”

Harriet Wran will probably be out of jail in a matter of weeks.

The court found Wran had been subjected to “almost 12 months in the harsh environment of the maximum security unit” and there “is a real risk that (she) may be moved back to a much more confined environment as a direct result of the publicity with potential ­serious mental and physical health implications”.

During a sentencing hearing earlier this month, Crown prosecutor Peter McGrath SC asked Wran if she acknowledged she had been “very lucky” during her time in ­custody to have access to two psychiatrists.

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“That doesn’t happen to many people,” Mr McGrath said.

“Yes, I am so lucky, I am so blessed to have that support; it has made all the difference,” Wran replied. The court found Wran does not “present with any discernible likelihood of reoffending” and that both charges were at the lower end of seriousness. An application made by counsel for Nationwide News, publisher of The Daily Telegraph, for access to nine char-acter references tendered on Wran’s behalf during her sentencing earlier this month was refused as Justice Harrison believed the paper “has ­evinced an insidious inclination to print material that is harmful to Ms Wran”. Co-accused Lee and Lloyd Edward Haines pleaded guilty to murder and will face a sentencing hearing in September.