Serial drink driver jailed for manslaughter

A serial drink driver, drunk and high on drugs when he killed an innocent motorist, has been sentenced to at least six years jail in Tasmania.

Supreme Court Justice Shan Tennent, in handing out one of the state's harshest-ever sentences for vehicular manslaughter on Wednesday, said 37-year-old Jason Harris's driving record was appalling.

His crime was one of the worst of its kind, Justice Tennent said.

"You were an accident waiting to happen and could easily have killed or injured several other road users," she told Harris.

The unemployed Launceston man earlier this month pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Dawn Lodge, 49, in a head-on collision in Fingal, on the state's east coast, on January 12.

Harris had continued to drive despite having had his licence disqualified five times, four times for drink driving.

He had been convicted of driving whilst disqualified five times and was given a three-month suspended jail sentence for drink driving a month before killing Mrs Lodge.

She was killed instantly on an urban road when Harris veered into the path of her car at 135km/h after smoking cannabis and drinking enough to return a blood alcohol level of 0.109, the court was told.

Her 18-year-old son James, a passenger in his mother's car, escaped any serious physical injury.

Harris survived the collision, suffering serious injuries and some brain damage.

The court was told he can't remember the event.

"I have no doubt both Mr Lodge and his son will suffer the effects of this accident for the rest of their lives and that nothing this court may do will change that," Justice Tennent said.

She said Harris drove in a dangerous manner on highways for about 90 minutes, putting a number of other drivers at risk, before killing Mrs Lodge.

"The consequences of your actions have been the worst imaginable," Justice Tennent said.

"This case can only be described as a very bad example of a crime of this nature and a significant sentence is required."

Justice Tennent convicted Harris and sentenced him to serve at least six years of a seven year jail term.

She disqualified Harris from driving for 15 years, until he reaches the age of 52.

He has to pay a victim of crime compensation levy of $50.

Rise in deaths of children at risk

THERE has been a surge in the number of deaths of children at risk in NSW in 2007, despite a $1.2 billion funding injection into the Department of Community Services over the previous five years.

The revelation came at an estimates hearing at State Parliament yesterday, as an inquiry is finalising its recommendations as to whether the Government is doing enough to protect children at risk.

The Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney, said yesterday 156 children at risk had died in 2007, up from 114 in 2006. In all cases, the children were known to DOCS as being at risk.

For several years the number of deaths of children at risk has hovered at 100-110 a year. Criticism over the continued high level of deaths led last September to the Wood inquiry, headed by retired Supreme Court judge James Wood, QC. It is to report its findings by year end.

The number of deaths of children at risk is usually disclosed by the Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, although Ms Burney said yesterday she had told him that if asked during the committee hearings, she would disclose the data.

Ms Burney pointed to the "significant increase" in the number of deaths, which would be of public concern.

"The most frequently-recorded risk factors in reports about children and young people who died in 2007 were domestic violence and parental substance abuse," Ms Burney told the parliamentary committee hearing. "These issues seriously erode our children's safety, accompanied by a third social problem, mental health issues for parents."

Of the 156 deaths, 72 were from natural causes, 18 were babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome, known as SIDS, eight were suicides, eight died in car accidents, five drowned, three died from fires, three from accidental choking or smothering, 11 died in uncommon circumstances such as from a snake bite, four died from fatal physical assaults, and the remaining 19 died due to causes unknown or undetermined.

In all, 55 per cent were involved either directly, or their sibling, in instances of domestic violence in the three years before their death, and there was also 55 per cent in cases where there was suspicion of parental substance abuse, and 24 per cent showing parental mental health concerns

"The Opposition has been calling for a royal commission into DOCS for quite some time," the Opposition spokeswoman on community services, Katrina Hodgkinson, said. She blamed the department for not working closely with other government agencies, a culture of bullying in the department, and a "revolving door of junior ministers" handling the portfolio for the chronic problems.

During the committee hearing, the director-general of the Department of Community Services, Jenny Mason, said that despite successes in hiring more case workers, staff turnover remains high, at 8.9 per cent in 2006-07.

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Man jailed for killing sex offender

A young man who bashed to death a [sex offender] will spend at least 15 years in jail.

Justice John Sulan said Jeffrey Edwin Payne's death, in April last year, was extremely brutal.

He was chased through a reserve near his home at Northfield in Adelaide and repeatedly stomped on.

Payne died of head injuries.

His killer Timothy Hemi Schaefer, 20, admitted murdering Payne in a drunken rage, but said he did not know what sparked the attack.

Justice Sulan said Schaefer had been abused by Payne and he was satisfied there were sexual connotations behind the attack.

A mandatory life prison term was set, with a 15-year non-parole period.

Sex offender killer paused for cigarette

The judge said Schaefer had known Payne for some time, as the victim was often visited in his home by young boys, including Schaefer, who he gave alcohol and drugs to.

Payne had convictions for sex offences and on the night of the attack, Schaefer had gone to his house "fired up" by a discussion about pedophiles with some friends.

Justice Sulan said Schaefer first attacked his victim in his home and then again in park nearby, a post-mortem examination revealed a crushed skull, fractured bones in Payne's face and multiple stab wounds.

There were also bruises and abrasions on his neck consistent with him being strangled.

"The deceased received a severe beating," Justice Sulan said.

In sentencing submissions earlier this year prosecutor Jane Powell said Schaefer had never expressed any remorse about killing the man he described to police as "a sack of shit".

She said Schaefer had paused to have a cigarette during his prolonged attack on Payne.

However, Justice Sulan said today he was satisfied there were special circumstances to allow him to set a shorter than usual minimum jail term, taking into account Schaefer's troubled life and early guilty plea.

He said Schaefer had been abused by his father then abused while in foster care, suffered from long-standing depression and anxiety and had used drugs and alcohol from 13.

When he was 17 he was also attacked by someone using a hammer and suffered a fractured skull, the incident leaving him with a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Justice Sulan imposed the mandatory head sentence of life in prison but set a non-parole period of 15 years.