The family of murdered Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley have labelled Queensland’s juvenile justice system as a “joke” after learning their son’s killer will appeal his sentence.
Jack’s killer, who was 17 at the time, was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in jail for the stabbing murder of Jack in Surfers Paradise in 2019.
However, because he pleaded guilty, he will only have to spend seven years behind bars.
Jack’s family revealed on Tuesday that they had been informed his killer will now attempt to have two years shaved from his sentence, with the matter to be heard in court on Friday.
“We’re absolutely devastated to hear this. We had a bit of a hunch that this may happen, but to get the phone call this morning to say that he’s appealed…mate, I can tell you it’s an absolute kick in the guts for us, it really is,” Jack’s father Brett told Nine Radio.
“This grub murdered my child and damn near murdered his best mate and he’s appealing that his sentence is too harsh and he’s trying to reduce his sentence. Like you’ve got to be frigging kidding me. Fair dinkum.”
News of the appeal comes just over a week from what would have been Jack’s 21st birthday.
“If he gets this appeal through and he gets granted this appeal, he will be out to celebrate his 21st birthday party with his family and friends.
“We didn’t get to do that with Jack. Jack missed out on his 18th, he missed out on his 21st and all those other milestones and this grub reckons he’s been dealt a hard blow. Like, he’s got to be kidding.”
Mr Beasley admits it’s a blow after the momentous occasion of having Jack’s Law passed by State Parliament and ratified on his birthday, allowing for the wanding trial to be expanded across Queensland.
“It really throws a spanner in the works and puts a damper on everything… we thought it was all done and dusted. But just to have this thrown back at us mate it’s devastating.
“It’s just not right, mate. The whole juvenile justice system here in Queensland is an absolute joke.”
