When assessing the objective seriousness of a violent offence, a sentencing judge is not required to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt as to the precise mechanism by which the victim's injuries were sustained. In cases of serious physical abuse of infants by persons entrusted with their care, general deterrence is of great importance and sentences must adequately reflect the gravity of the offence, the need for general deterrence, and denunciation. An undiscounted starting point of 14 years (56% of the 25-year maximum) for intentionally inflicting life-threatening injuries on a 7-month-old infant causing permanent catastrophic disabilities was manifestly inadequate; the appropriate undiscounted starting point was 17 years.
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