A background of domestic violence, prior good character, and serious health conditions (including end-stage kidney failure substantially reducing life expectancy) do not necessarily render a sentence of life imprisonment 'clearly unjust' under s 279(4) of the Criminal Code (WA) where the offender stabbed an unarmed person principally out of anger while grossly intoxicated. A non-parole period of 12 years for murder, while substantially below the not uncommon range of 17-23 years, is not manifestly excessive where the offence is at the lower end of seriousness but the offender did not plead guilty.
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