CONVICTED double-murderer Bo Krister Olsson’s request for a discount on his sentence is one of several South Australian cases triggering a review into plea bargain laws.
Olsson, 54, was sentenced to life with a 26 year non-parole period for murdering his partner Sherril Pountney, 63, and her mother Patricia Phillips, 84, last year.
Under state law, Olsson was eligible for a 40pc discount on his jail term for pleading guilty early, but was not granted the full discount by sentencing Judge Anne Brampton.
She imposed a 25.7pc reduction, telling the court the full discount would result in a sentence so “disproportionate to the seriousness” of the offence that it would “affect public confidence in the administration of justice”.
Following his sentence, Olsson’s defence counsel asked the Court of Criminal Appeal to overturn the “manifestly excessive” prison term, saying he deserved the full 40pc legislated sentencing discount because he confessed and helped lead police to the women’s bodies.
According to The Advertiser, the prosecution strongly rejected the request and said the crime was “so inherently serious” it did not warrant the full discount.
Olsson was under the influence of ice when he bashed his partner to death with a steel bar before strangling her mother in what Judge Brampton described as a “sustained” and “violent” attack.
South Australian Attorney-General Vickie Chapman’s office confirmed Olsson’s request for a discount was among several major cases highlighting the need to review the current system.
She said there was “clearly a need” to conduct a review into the scheme and address “community concerns regarding large sentence discounts being given to offenders”.
Cody Pountney, who lost both his mother and grandmother after the attack, was dismissive of the review and any changes to sentencing discounts, simply saying “it will not happen”.
Ms Chapman encouraged individuals to make a subsmission to be considered through the review process.
“Many people out in the public have very strong views about sentencing discounts and they deserved to be heard,” she said.
Submissions can be emailed directly to SentencingReductionsReview@sa.gov.au before 5pm on November 23.
Visit yoursay.sa.gov.au/decisions/sentencing-review for more information.
