Evil killer Michael Cardamone loses bid for parole, to die behind bars
Karen Chetcuti’s evil killer has been slammed once again in court, and will die in jail after his life sentence without parole was upheld today for the “horrendous”, “appalling” way she was murdered.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Evil killer Michael Cardamone will die behind bars for the brutal murder of Karen Chetcuti after losing a bid to have a parole period imposed.
Cardamone was jailed for life without parole for the horrific 2016 murder of Ms Chetcuti.
He sought leave to appeal that sentence, arguing his guilty plea to the murder meant he was entitled to a non-parole period.
Under Victorian law, courts are required to provide a specified sentence discount when sentencing an offender who pleads guilty.
Sentencing Cardamone, Justice Lex Lasry refused to do so.
“To refuse to fix a minimum term is an exceptional step and is a dreadful punishment, but this was a dreadful crime,” he said at the time.
“Your conduct in relation to the murder of Ms Chetcuti was extraordinarily vicious, callous and thoroughly unprovoked.
“The crime you committed was quite simply horrifying, depraved and disgusting.”
The Court of Appeal today ruled he was right to do so.
Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, Court of Appeal president Chris Maxwell, and Justice Mark Weinberg refused Cardamone’s application for leave to appeal.
“The murder of Ms Chetcuti was a horrendous crime, committed in the most appalling way,” the Chief Justice said.
“The murder was premeditated and committed in circumstances of the utmost cruelty.
“It was committed by an offender who had already shown himself to be a serious threat to women, and who had offended again not long after being released from two very long stints in prison.”
Cardamone had prior convictions for serious offending, including the rape of a 15-year-old girl, and was on parole at the time of Ms Chetcuti’s murder.
MORE NEWS:
THE ‘SCARY COLES’ PEOPLE AVOID AFTER DARK
CORONER QUITS DESPITE BEING CLEARED OF BOOZE CLAIM
Ms Chetcuti, 49, was attacked, tied up, gagged and fed animal tranquilliser.
She was tortured for hours, possibly sexually assaulted, beaten and injected with battery acid before being burnt alive.
She was missing for a week before her body was found, and in that time, Cardamone tried to throw police off his scent.
He was a known sexual deviant had been released from prison just six months earlier.
“The sentence of life imprisonment, with no none-parole period was a dreadful punishment,” the Chief Justice said.
“It was, however, a punishment for a dreadful crime.
“It was, in the exceptional circumstances of this case, well merited,” she said.
Cardamone did not appear at court today.