Ed Cleo Smith

[lionking]

This was a terrible crime, mitigated only by the fact Cleo was not badly injured.

I think it’s a fair sentence. He got a 25% discount due to his guilty plea. The impact on the parents was extreme, and I hope Cleo grows up without distress.

I have no sympathy for Kelly. He admitted to “roughening up” and smacking Cleo. He will still be in his 40s when released, so I hope he returns to society rehabilitated.

 

[arthwollipot]

This was a terrible crime, mitigated only by the fact Cleo was not badly injured.

Physically injured. She'll probably carry emotional scars of some kind for the rest of her life.

 

[The Atheist]

I think it’s a fair sentence.

Different state, but it seems a little out of kilter with murderers getting the same sentence.

https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Publications/BB/bb76.pdf

 

[Vixen]

IMV Kelly's sentence was ridiculously lenient. That poor little girl likely had to use all of her survival skills when she discovered her predicament. True, she lapsed into temper tantrums when she didn't get enough chocolate but the fact that she was found after 18 days locked in a room doesn't qualify as mitigation IMV, just because she was still alive. OK, so he pleaded guilty at an early stage. Still too lenient for such a serious crime.