The Verdins sentencing principles apply to intellectual disability as well as psychiatric disorders, but are only enlivened where a causal connection is established between the disability and the offending, and where evidence is adduced that imprisonment would be more burdensome for the offender. Where an offender's sustained and escalating attack demonstrates foresight of maximum harm, the offence of recklessly causing serious injury may be treated as in the worst category with little to differentiate it from intentionally causing serious injury. A non-parole period exceeding three-quarters of the head sentence requires reasons, and the longer the head sentence, the shorter the non-parole period may appropriately be as a proportion.
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