凶手重罪轻判，法律改革乃迫切之需

上週一名谋杀 90 岁退伍军人 Ken Handford 的凶手被定罪，处 13 年有期徒刑并于之后获释。

该案受害者被野蛮的綑绑、刺伤并死于自己家中，凶手更曾犯下如家庭入侵的重罪。

重罪轻判显示当前法律有改革的迫切性，法院对暴力犯罪者应处更长刑期的判决。

如果维州选举胜选，维州自由党将推动法律改革，对于有重大前科犯罪在身的累犯者，一旦判刑确定，将有最低重犯刑期规定。　以杀人累犯为例，最低刑期为 20 年有期徒刑。

英文版/ English version

Weak sentence for killer shows need for stronger laws

Last week, a court gave the convicted killer of a 90 year old war veteran, Ken Handford, a sentence allowing the killer to be released after just 13 years in jail.

The victim was brutally tied up, stabbed, and left to die in his own home. The killer had previously committed other serious crimes including home invasion.

This low sentence shows the need for the law to be changed so courts must give longer sentences to violent offenders.

If elected next year, the Victorian Liberals will change the law to require a violent offender to serve a long minimum jail term if they have previously been found guilty of another serious violent offence. This will include at least 20 years in jail for murder.