Five years for random killing of gran

A LONG-term alcoholic who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 71-year-old grandmother on a Hobart street will spend at least five years in jail.

MERCURY TASMANIA, Manslaughter victim Carmel Nettlefold, 71. Died October 14, 2014

A LONG-term alcoholic who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 71-year-old grandmother on a Hobart street last year will spend at least five years in jail.

In sentencing New Town’s Robert Frederick Bowden to a maximum of eight years behind bars for the unprovoked daylight attack on Carmel Nettlefold, Justice Shan Tennent said the 50-year-old’s actions were aggravated by the fact he had targeted an elderly woman, who was also a stranger, on a public street.

The court heard Ms Nettlefold had followed her son and his young family to Tasmania from the mainland and was taking a Saturday morning walk along New Town Rd on October 4 last year when Bowden joined her on a traffic island.

Justice Tennent said the defendant, who had mixed alcohol and valium the night before, suddenly raised two arms and violently shoved Ms Nettlefold in the chest.

“The push was with such force that she fell backwards and hit her head on the road,” Justice Tennent said.

“Her head took most of the impact.”

The court heard Bowden made no effort to check on his victim’s condition, and became aggressive towards a motorist who witnessed the incident and had started taking photos of him.

Ms Nettlefold was transferred by ambulance to the Royal Hobart Hospital but her condition deteriorated and she died four days later.

Read more in tomorrow’s Mercury.