Baby killer jailed for life
Baby killer Wayne Murray Narkle will spend at least 15 years behind bars and has been warned he may never be released from jail for murdering an innocent toddler.
Sentencing Narkle to a life term this afternoon, Justice John McKechnie said the 24-year-old had betrayed the trust of baby Robert Bodney after he snapped and killed the boy in a momentary loss of control while under the influence of heroin.
Justice McKechnie said the specific act which caused the two-year-old's severe head injury remained unexplained by Narkle's admissions to police that he violently shook and slapped the baby.
Justice McKechnie said Robert's mother, Kerry Bodney, had screamed for hours after her son was murdered and neither of the boy's parents would experience the joy of seeing their son grow and develop.
He accepted that Narkle's plea of guilty to murder had spared Ms Bodney the torment of giving evidence at a trial and the concession by prosecutors that there had been no intention to kill the baby.
Justice McKechnie said Narkle's background of domestic violence and dysfunction was depressingly commonplace.
"Crimes like yours will continue until as a society we address some of the systemic causes," Justice McKechnie said.
"Your descent into drug use and crime was more or less ordained."
Earlier today prosecutor Justin Whalley had earlier told the court Narkle had been arguing with his then 20-year-old girlfriend Kerry Bodney throughout the day on December 30, 2012.
Mr Whalley said Narkle believed toddler Robert Bodney was too "clingy" with his mother and needed to "man up" and become more independent.
When Ms Bodney left the house, Robert had been crying and Narkle had slapped and shook him three times before leaving him in bed.
The couple later found Robert had turned blue and was unconscious.
Robert Bodney was two years old when he died. Picture: Facebook
A post-mortem revealed the toddler had died from a severe head injury caused by a blunt force trauma which had required a significant degree of force, which could have been the result of single or multiple blows.
The baby had either been hit by Narkle or had hit or his head while being shaken.
Weeping could be heard from the public gallery as the confronting details of the toddler's death were outlined to the court.
Mr Whalley said it was accepted that Narkle had a momentary loss of self control that he almost instantly regretted.
Defence lawyer Simon Watters told the court his client was genuinely remorseful and remained deeply shocked by his actions.
Mr Watters said Narkle denied that he believed Robert had been too clingy and because of the effects of heroin, could not clearly recall the details of the murder.
"Clearly, the explanation for the behaviour of Mr Narkle on that evening was attributable to the influence of heroin," Mr Watters said.
Kerry Bodney with her son Robert. Picture: Facebook
He said Narkle had never contemplated or intended harming the baby.
"Whenever he discusses the offence he become extremely tearful and extremely upset," Mr Watters said.
Earlier today Justice McKechnie said the death of Robert had "pretty well destroyed" Ms Bodney's life.
