Pawel Klosowski applies for shorter prison term for killing his son Lukasz and girlfriend Chelsea

Pawel Klosowski is currently facing a 34-year prison term over the murder of his son, Lukasz and son’s girlfriend, Chelsea. He will appeal for a shorter non-parole period this week.

The man who shot dead his son and the 19-year-old’s girlfriend in the state’s South-East has been granted permission to argue for an earlier prison release date.

Pawel Klosowski pleaded guilty to the double murder of his son, Lukasz Klosowski, and Chelsea Ireland, both 19, at his Mt McIntyre property on August 22, 2020.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment, 34 years non-parole, in the Supreme Court in April this year.

Lukasz Klosowski and Chelsea Ireland. Picture: Supplied by family

Klosowski appeared before the Supreme Court’s Justice David Lovell on May 11, who administratively referred his application for a shorter non-parole period to the full sitting of the Court of Appeal.

Pawel Klosowski, of Mount McIntyre near Kalangadoo.

Filed by his lawyer, Nick Vadasz, documents viewed by The Advertiser reveal Klosowski will argue the non-parole period is “manifestly excessive”, that the starting point in all the circumstances was too high, and the reduction of 15 per cent for a guilty plea was too low.

Commissioner for Victims’ Rights Bronwyn Killmier said the move by Klosowki was an insult to the victims’ families.

“It’s a slap in the face for those left behind who are traumatised and trying to cope with the loss of their loved ones by someone who should’ve been protecting them,” Ms Killmier said.

“It will just exacerbate their trauma that they would already feel.

“He should take responsibility and just accept the sentence.”

In a medical report at the time of sentencing, neuropsychologist Dr Emma Fitzgerald described Klosowski as having experienced a history of angry outbursts, and incidents where he could not recall what happened during a rage,

“It is respectfully submitted that the reduction, taking into account the timing and circumstances together with the genuine remorse and in all the circumstances, going to mitigation, was manifestly inadequate,” the defendant wrote.

“Further, the cumulative effect of a too high starting point and a too low reduction has caused the sentencing process to miscarry and has resulted in a manifestly excessive non-parole period.”

The Department of Public Prosecutions responded in the documents that neither aspect of their argument was reasonable.

“A non parole period of 34 years imprisonment (reduced from 40 years) and a generous discount of 15 per cent appropriately reflects the nature of the applicant’s offending,” they wrote.

Lukasz Klosowski and Chelsea Ireland. Picture: Supplied By Family

“The murder of two young people, particular in the circumstances of this matter, is offending which repulses the community. The impact of this offending on Lukasz and Chelsea’s friends and family is profound.

“The offending rightly calls for strong community condemnation. The public’s confidence in the administration of justice, when considering an offence of this nature, must rise and fall on whether an offender is imprisoned for a period that reflects their expectations of condign punishment.”

Supreme Court Justice Anne Bampton described the double murder as “deliberate and purposeful” in sentencing Klosowski.

He shot the two 19-year-olds at close range during an alcohol fuelled rage following an argument at his property.

Klosowski will face the Court of Appeal via videolink on Tuesday August 10.

Originally published as Pawel Klosowski applies for shorter prison term for killing his son Lukasz and girlfriend Chelsea