49th Murderer –  Rick Thorburn  - Victim: Tiahleigh Palmer, 12

More than two years after Tiahleigh Palmer was killed and left on the banks of the Pimpama River near the Gold Coast , her foster father, Rick Thorburn, was sentenced.

"The most probable reason that Mr Thorburn killed Tiahleigh was the reason he gave to his family – he killed her to cover up the fact that [his son] Trent had been abusing her and in an effort to protect Trent from being convicted of incest and imprisoned," deputy State Coroner, Jane Bentley said.

Thorburn will spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering the 12-year-old.  He will need to serve 20 years in prison before being eligible for parole on Sept 12, 2036.

In sentencing Thorburn, Justice David Boddice told the court the foster dad’s actions were “cold, calculating and callous” and his conduct had been “truly appalling”.

        “You murdered this defenceless child who relied on you for protection,” he said.

Prominent child safety advocate Hetty Johnston said the prospect of Thorburn ever leaving jail was incomprehensible and upsetting.

Thorburn, now 58, will never be released from jail.  He has been behind bars for 4 years. Based on the average annual cost of Maximum Security Incarceration in 2020, should Thorburn live another 17 years to 75, his jail incarceration of 21 years will have cost the Qld. taxpayer $3.675 million circa ($175,000 p.a. X 21 years).

Questions

Should the Qld state government amend its criminal codes so that where the level of proof is Beyond Any Doubt of Guilt that the death penalty may be sentenced for malicious unprovoked murder because Justice for the Innocent Victim should be a consideration amongst the Purposes of Sentencing?

Should other states and territories similarly amend their criminal codes?

Write responses to above two questions re 49th Murderer on the 'Peer Reviewer's Responses to Sentences Form' Word document 

[bottom.htm]