Justice not served by inadequate sentence for Dr Cao’s killer

The maximum sentence of only 13 years imprisonment for the murder of Dr Zhongjun Cao is grossly inadequate punishment for the bashing and killing of an innocent family man who was walking home from work.

“This case shows yet again that the sentences being handed down in Victorian courts are seriously out of line with community expectations, and the government and Parliament must act to ensure that sentences given reflect the sentences that Parliament has set, in order to deter crime and protect the community.

“The maximum sentence set by Parliament for murder is life imprisonment, yet the combined sentences given in this particularly horrific case of a murder and two robberies total only 15 years at maximum, and are likely to be a minimum of 10 years.

Dr Cao was a much-loved husband and father, and a highly respected teacher of mathematics at Victoria University in Footscray.

“Dr Cao and his family had chosen to make Australia their home and were entitled to look forward to many years of happiness together, but Dr Cao’s life was ended at just 41 years of age and the lives of his wife and daughter were changed forever by this cruel and cowardly attack,” Shadow Attorney-General Robert Clark said today.

In handing down sentence on one of Dr Cao’s murderers yesterday, Justice David Harper rightly said: ‘Everyone in this city, in this state, and in this country – visitors, students, residents, everyone, whatever their race or gender or beliefs – has the right to walk its streets without fear. This is a fundamental right, one which all of us are entitled to take for granted. It is a necessary element of any decent community. You have flouted that right. You have added to the level of community fear, and fear is a particularly corrosive force. You have therefore diminished the quality of life of us all. You must pay the price’.

“The sentence of just 13 years handed down for Dr Cao’s murder gives no confidence to Victorians that their rights are being upheld or that Dr Cao’s killer has paid an appropriate price,” Mr Clark said.

“Justice Harper’s judgement shows that the killer had previously been before the Children’s Court on three occasions − once for misuse of a motor vehicle, once for two incidents involving assault, a threat to kill and damaging property, and the third time for theft.

“He was still on a community-based order for the second appearance and on a good behaviour bond for the third appearance when he killed Dr Cao.

“This case also shows yet again the urgent need to have more police on our streets to deter and prevent sickening violent attacks and to do more to boost security in known danger areas,” Mr Clark said.