Kyneton killer driver Charles McKenzie Ross Evans’ jail term stands
Attorney-General Jill Hennessy has offered her sympathy to the family of Alicia Little, who this week heard there would be no appeal against the sentence handed to her killer, Charles McKenzie Ross Evans.
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Attorney-General Jill Hennessy has offered sympathy to a family rocked by a 2½ year minimum jail term imposed on a violent killer.
The family of Alicia Little were devastated this week when they were told there would be no appeal against the sentence handed to Charles McKenzie Ross Evans.
With time already served, he could be freed by June next year for running over and killing Ms Little at their Kyneton property in December, 2017.
An initial charge of murder was dropped and Evans pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to help the dying Ms Little.
His prison term has a maximum of four years.
Evans has a decades-long history of family violence against Ms Little and his ex-wife in New South Wales.
Ms Little’s mother Lee said she understood the case was a challenging one for the justice system, but it made her feel sick to learn there would be no appeal.
“It makes us feel like my daughter’s life was worth nothing,” Lee Little said.
Ms Hennessy said her heart went out to Alicia’s family.
“Having Alicia taken away from them in such horrendous circumstances is absolutely devastating and is something no family should have to go through,” she said.
“While I understand and acknowledge that they feel angry and let down at what’s happened it’s not appropriate for me, as Attorney-General, to criticise or comment on the decisions of judges, Victoria Police or the Director of Public Prosecutions in specific cases.”
Ms Hennessy said ensuring judges, the police and the DPP were free from political interference in individual cases was a fundamental part of having a fair justice system.
“I would like to my extend my heartfelt sympathies to Alicia’s family at this traumatic time,” she said.
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Evans’ extensive background of violence could not be considered during proceedings over the Kyneton tragedy.
He had previously hospitalised Ms Little, 41, who had her bags packed and was ready to leave him on the afternoon she died.
Evans’ former wife Kim Bermingham said she was also a victim of his violence when they were married in NSW.
Ms Little’s family has started a petition seeking 10,000 signatures to support a national database of domestic violence perpetrators, similar to a sex offenders’ register.