The post-transitional sentencing range for unlawfully doing grievous bodily harm under s 297(1) of the Criminal Code (WA) is 8 months to 5 years 4 months, with 3 to 5 years for offences towards the upper end of the range. Premeditated, weapon-assisted violence against a defenceless woman, committed in the presence of her young children, falls towards the upper end of the range. An offender's deprived upbringing and childhood exposure to domestic violence cannot appropriately diminish culpability for violence against women, and sentencing judges should not characterise offenders as having been 'trained' to commit violence in a manner that shifts responsibility from the offender.
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