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'Disgusting and appalling': Baby killer's sentence to be questioned in Court of Appeal

The fight to keep a Victorian toddler killer behind bars for longer has been taken to the Court of Appeal.

Little Bella Lawrence died after her mother’s boyfriend stood on her, causing catastrophic injuries.

However, Harley Woodford was given a sentencing discount for showing remorse and confessing.

Bella’s father Jonathan Lawrence described Woodford’s sentence as “disgusting and appalling”.

Angie Roberts with her daughter Bella. Source: 7 News
Angie Roberts with her daughter Bella. Source: 7 News

Woodford was dating the three-year-old's mother in 2015 when he tripped over Bella in their Horsham home.

That triggered an outburst, which saw him stand on her stomach with his full body weight of 100kg.

Woodford was charged with child homicide, a relatively new law for the death of a person under the age of six, and was jailed for nine years.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions and Bella's family say that's too lenient.

In appealing the sentence, the court questioned if Woodford knew he'd fatally injured her.

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Harley Woodford was sentenced to nine years' jail for Bella's death. Source: 7 News
Harley Woodford was sentenced to nine years' jail for Bella's death. Source: 7 News

“He told her not to tell her mother what happened, he told her to tell her mum she had a stomach ache,” Senior Crown prosecutor Christopher Boyce told the court.

“He's not a doctor but she [was] not well and he knew it.”

Prosecutor Amanda Fox, QC, said the offence was “spontaneous”.

Bella's mum Angie Roberts leaves court distressed over details mentioned in the hearing. Source: 7 News
Bella's mum Angie Roberts leaves court distressed over details mentioned in the hearing. Source: 7 News

“Mr Woodford tripped over the child and in our submission, it was a momentary loss of control,” she told the court.

Even though it took Woodford seven months to confess, the judges considered how pivotal his admissions were.

Without them there was a possibility that no one would've been held to account and they agreed that deserved a sentencing discount.

The appeal judges are yet to decide if Woodford should receive a harsher sentence.

Woodford was granted a more lenient sentence given he confessed to killing Bella (pictured). Source: 7 News
Woodford was granted a more lenient sentence given he confessed to killing Bella (pictured). Source: 7 News