Friday 26 September 2008

Man gets life for grandmother's murder

A Supreme Court judge in Brisbane has jailed an Ipswich man for life for murdering his grandmother.

Brett Adam Crowley, 20, stabbed and smothered his 81-year-old grandmother, Violet Crowley, at her Ipswich unit in 2006.

During the trial, the court heard Crowley attacked her during an argument over housework and his attitude towards her.

The jury returned its guilty verdict after five hours of deliberations.

In sentencing Crowley to a mandatory life term, Justice Richard Chesterman said the Crown's case was a strong one and the jury's verdict was not surprising.

Justice Chesterman told Crowley he had killed the woman who had offered him a home and support, and that his attack on her was vicious, uncalled for and wholly disproportionate.

Outside the court, relative Charlene Scanlan described her grandmother as a wonderful woman.

"She was just a caring lady and she loved us all unconditionally," she said.

"She didn't deserve to die the way she did, especially with the person she loved and trusted as the culprit."

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