Thursday 10 July 2008

Man who ridiculed dying toddler gets 11 years

A man who ridiculed a dying toddler and filmed it on a mobile phone has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.

The Supreme Court heard 30-year-old David John Partridge found amusement in filming David Mamo as he died slowly from a beating in 2006.

Prosecutors originally charged him with murder but dropped the charge when they could not prove who had attacked the child.

Partridge and the boy's mother, Melissa Field, both pleaded guilty to criminal neglect and Field was given a six-year sentence with four-and-a-half years non-parole.

Partridge asked for a lesser term, arguing he has been attacked in prison and fears for his life.

But Justice Timothy Anderson said that was not an appropriate reason for leniency.

He sentenced Partridge to 11 years and three months in jail.

Partridge will be eligible for parole in five years.

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