A sentence of six years imprisonment with statutory parole eligibility after three years was upheld (2-1) for the rape of a 13-year-old child by an 18-19 year old offender with no criminal history, where the offender was found to lack remorse and did not plead guilty to the most serious charge. The dissent by Holmes CJ would have reduced the sentence to five years with parole after two years on the basis that insufficient weight was given to youth and rehabilitation. The case illustrates that youth and rehabilitation prospects, while mandatory considerations under s 9(6) of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld), may be outweighed by the seriousness of sexual offending against a child, lack of remorse, and the need for general deterrence.
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