Greens question state government’s slow action on introducing strangulation laws
The state government has been urged to “get a move on” with introducing strangulation laws – a year after a coroner recommended they be created.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Coroner recommends new crime of strangulation following murder
- Coroner slams cops after mum driven to her own death
LAWS against non-fatal strangulation should be fast-tracked to bring Tasmania into line with other states, the Greens say.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart recommended a year ago that the government create a separate offence, which has been backed by the Women’s Legal Centre.
She made the recommendation after an inquest into the death of 28-year-old Jodi Eaton, who was strangled to death by Darren Michael Dobson in 2014.
Dobson had four prior convictions for choking or strangling women.
Attorney-General Elise Archer has referred the matter to the Sentencing Advisory Council, but Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the government wasn’t moving fast enough.
“We’ve written to the Attorney-General, urging her to get a move on with this given the weight of evidence that we need this law in Tasmania,” she said.
“Apart from Victoria, every other Australian state or territory has a crime of non-fatal strangulation on its books.
“What the Attorney-General needs to do in order to protect women and children from family violence is commit to making this change.
“The referral to the Sentencing Advisory Council should be about what form the legislation might take and what penalties might apply.”
Ms Archer said getting the change to the law right was her top priority given the public interest in the matter.
“I’ve indicated to the chair of the Sentencing Advisory Council my interest in them being able to prioritise this work,” she said.
“It’s not an easy area of reform. On the face of it, it does sound like it’s a simple matter, but currently people can be charged under the Criminal Code which carries a maximum sentence of 21 years.
“We don’t want to have a perverse outcome by having a stand-alone offence, for example and restrict the maximum sentences.”
She said she would wait for the SAC to complete its report.
Private investigator gives evidence in $239k Lamborghini crash trial
A private investigator and former Victorian policeman — who once served time in prison for crimes including incitement to kidnap and assaulting suspects — has told a Tasmanian jury about an insurance probe he conducted into a Lamborghini crash at Seven Mile Beach in 2019.
Ex-cop faces Hobart court over historic abuse charges
A former Tasmanian Police officer and member of a Mormon church has faced court over historic abuse charges relating to multiple young members of the church. What the court heard.