QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER APPEALING BRETT COWANS NON-PAROLE PERIOD: The Queensland Government will consider taking legal action to extend the length of Brett Peter Cowans non-parole minimum for the murder of Daniel Morcombe in 2003. Cowan, 44, was sentenced on Friday to life with a non-parole period of 20 years for the December 7, 2003 abduction and killing of 13-year-old Daniel as he was waiting for a bus at Woombye on the Sunshine Coast. Cowan confessed to the crime in a secret recording made by undercover police posing as criminal gang members. In sentencing, Justice Roslyn Atkinson said the crimes had a shocking impact and warned parole authorities that Cowan had pretended to be interested in rehabilitation after past crimes. You didnt look like a monster, you didnt look like a paedophile, you looked like an ordinary person, she said. You knew if he ran away, youd be caught. So you killed him. You killed him because you didnt want to get caught. Everything you did to that boy is horrific and disgraceful. Ive seen no evidence in the months youve been in this court that you ever felt any remorse for what you did. Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said he is reviewing the sentence, indicating he could request an appeal to have the non-parole period extended. I have spoken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) about seeking advice, he said. Ill be meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions next week and well be formalising, or he will be formalising the advice to me and then based on that advice well then see where we go. I have to be very careful with what I say. Suffice to say that I have been contacted this morning by many members of the community who are concerned with the sentence handed down and thats why I immediately asked the DPP to look at giving me appropriate advice for the next few days. Queensland Government minister Scott Emerson said a review of Cowans sentence is appropriate. I do note that in other parts of Australia, similar crimes do carry much heavier penalties, he said. I think theres a lot of community concern about this case, and obviously community awareness of this case. I think its quite appropriate for the Attorney-General to consider reviewing the sentence, but Ill leave that to him.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 14:22:19 +0000