Reduced jail term for basher

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/09/2240194.htm

ABC (Australia) News
Posted Fri May 9, 2008 1:23pm AEST

A man who bashed a transexual at her Melbourne apartment will spend less time in jail after having his sentence reduced by two years.

Clinton Dwayne McRae went to Isabella Labrador's apartment after meeting her at a Crown Casino bar in January 2006.

When McRae discovered Ms Labrador was really a man, he punched her, dragged her by the hair, smashed a vase over her head, and then stabbed her with the jagged pieces.

The Court of Appeal has found McRae's sentence was manifestly excessive and re-sentenced him to five years prison with a minimum of two years and nine months.

END


[However, this is not the end of the story. In fact the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected the defence's claims that the perpetrator's actions were somehow justified because of his horror at discovering that Isabella had male genitals - a variation of the homosexual panic defence. The whole judgement can be viewed at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSCA/2008/74.html

.. kaz]