Homeless youth jailed for WA murder
A homeless teenager who murdered a man for the "flimsy" motive of believing the victim had slept with his girlfriend has been jailed for at least 18 years.
Jarrad Anthony Angliss, who was convicted by a jury, was sentenced in the West Australian Supreme Court on Thursday for the murder of 32-year-old Randall Lee Duncan in Fremantle in September 2012.
The court heard Angliss, then aged 18, was dating an older woman and believed Mr Duncan - who had recently become itinerant although he had a home and family - had had sex with the woman.
In sentencing, Justice Stephen Hall said there may also have been another person involved in the laneway bashing but it was Angliss who stabbed Mr Duncan with a pair of scissors while he was on the ground.
"It is very clear that you were the aggressor," Justice Hall said.
While the assault was likely planned, the murder was not pre-meditated and probably occurred suddenly "in the heat of the assault" over the "most flimsy of motives", Justice Hall said.
Angliss had a history of drinking "to the point of insensibility" and was probably drunk at the time of the incident, the judge said.
While Angliss claimed to feel sorrow for the victim and his family, Justice Hall said Angliss had not taken responsibility and that would affect his rehabilitation.
A psychologist's report also indicated Angliss was a high risk of violent re-offending.
Justice Hall said it was a "terrible tragedy" for Mr Duncan's children to grow up without him.
He also noted statements from members of Mr Duncan's family who said while people might see him as homeless, to those who loved him he was "far from worthless".
"I'm still totally shattered," his mother said.
"Each day I live in hope that I will heal."
Justice Hall considered Angliss's childhood, which lacked love and support from his parents, and said his youth was in his favour.
Angliss was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years, backdated to September 2012.
Outside court, the victim's father said he was satisfied with the sentence.
