Jodi Eaton’s killer Darren Michael Dobson ‘did nothing to mitigate his dreadful conduct’, DPP tells court

THE Legal Aid Commission’s arguments to overturn the life sentence of a deranged killer are “wrong in law, contrary to authority, contrary to principal”, an appeal court in Hobart has heard.

Police searching for clues after Jodi Eaton disappeared from a house in Bridgewater in 2014.

THE Legal Aid Commission’s arguments to overturn the life sentence of a deranged killer are “wrong in law, contrary to authority, contrary to principal”, an appeal court in Hobart has heard.

MORE: BRUTAL KILLER’S BID TO CUT LIFE SENTENCE

Darren Michael Dobson, 39, brutally extinguished the life of mother-of-two Jodi Eaton by strangling her on February 1, 2014, in a Bridgewater home.

Last year Chief Justice Alan Blow categorised the murder as being in the worst category.

He sentenced Dobson to life in prison but made him eligible for parole after 15 years.

MORE: DOBSON SENTENCED OVER MURDER

If a person serving life is given parole, they are deemed to be on parole for life.

Jodi Eaton met Darren Michael Dobson just hours before he killed her.

Speaking today in the Supreme Court, Legal Aid lawyer Katie Edwards said Dobson pleaded guilty on the less serious basis that he “ought to have known” his actions would kill Ms Eaton.

She argued the worst category of homicide should be reserved for people who “intend“ to murder.

“It should not be placed in the worst category, even if there are significant aggravating factors,” she said.

Ms Edwards said Chief Justice Blow gave “far too much weight” to the aggravating factors to Dobson’s crime, which included hiding the body twice and a history of horrific violence, including rape, against women.

Police intensify their search for missing woman Jodi Eaton at a property in Sonners Rd, Pelham, in the weeks after Jodi Eaton went missing.

But Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates, SC, said it was “wrong” to suggest that just because a murderer didn’t intend to kill their victim, the crime could never be placed in the worst category.

After murdering Ms Eaton, Dobson hid the 28-year-old’s body in a garage at 3 Sage Court in Bridgewater. He then wrapped it a plastic pool liner and buried her remains in a shallow grave on the property of his uncle Maxwell Douglas Morrison in Pelham.

Police would not find the body for another 18 days.

Mr Coates said this had a “horrendous effect” on Ms Eaton’s family, including two her daughters, aged 5 and 8.

“During that 18 days he did nothing to mitigate his dreadful conduct,” he said.

Mr Coates said the murder had left the children without a mother and “separated from each other”.

He highlighted Dobson’s violent abuse of women, including the vicious beating of his pregnant partner which only stopped after police capsicum sprayed him.

Mr Coates said Dobson knew he had a problem with losing his temper and ”strangling” women.

Jodi Eaton’s mother Margaret Pickerell, left, and sister Sandra Eaton making a plea for information after her murder.

At the time of killing Ms Eaton, he was on bail for attacking his partner and subject to a suspended sentence for the same thing.

Mr Coates said the protection of the public was right to be considered by Chief Justice Blow during sentencing.

He said the fact that Dobson had been given a non-parole period of 15 years meant he hadn’t received the maximum sentence, which would be life without parole.

A person in the public gallery shouted that “Jodi doesn’t get 15 years”.

“She doesn’t get to stand up and smile for another 15 years,” he said before being removed from the court by security.

Justices Helen Wood, Shan Tennent and Robert Pearce reserved their decision.

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Originally published as Jodi Eaton’s killer Darren Michael Dobson ‘did nothing to mitigate his dreadful conduct’, DPP tells court