Granny gets bashed in bed- robber walks free

I find the way the Australian justice system works very fascinating.

Check it out- a 19 year old man bashes a granny in her bed to steal some money - and leaves her there for dead in her pool of blood.

When caught - the judge decides not to put him in jail because he looks much too delicate for the prison system.

Unbelievable.

Read it here: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23232956-661,00.html

Its worth noting that the judge has had a career supporting Aboriginal groups and their causes. As to whether he was impartial in this case, I leave it up to you.

Dina Rosendorff

February 18, 2008 02:58pm

A TEENAGER who robbed then bashed a 75-year-old great-grandmother in her bed so she would not recognise him has avoided jail.

Judge David Parsons today sentenced Ashley Wayne Brooks, 19, to a two-year youth justice centre order and said his young age and slight stature were factors in the sentencing.

Brooks had pleaded guilty in the County Court to five charges including aggravated burglary and intentionally causing serious injury after breaking into Barbara Durea's housing commission flat in Traralgon on March 17.

She eventually managed to telephone her daughter for help and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She was placed in an induced coma for 12 days. The attack left her with a dislocated jaw, broken nose, cut above her brow, bruising to her face and body and unable to open her right eye.

The court heard Brooks had sought to render his victim unconscious so she would no't recognise him.

Judge Parsons said Brooks, whose girlfriend is expecting their first child, was a disadvantaged young Aboriginal man who was illiterate and effectively homeless.

Although he described Brooks' violent attack on Barbara Durea as "sickening", the judge said the defendant's chances of rehabilitation were reasonably good.

"I think you're worth a chance," he said. "You haven't really had much of a chance to date."

Judge Parsons sentenced Brooks to a two-year youth justice centre order, where he would have access to education and gain the necessary skills to change his life.