Stainforth Court murder: Killer jailed for at least 14 years for night of alcohol-fuelled violence
A man who murdered one person and seriously injured another in a night of alcohol-fuelled violence at a public housing unit will spend at least another 11 years in prison.
Justice Shan Tennent sentencedRhys Louis Gardner to 21 years in prison with a non-parole period of 14 years for murdering Michael David Williams and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Williams' uncle Shane Waller at the Stainforth Court public housing estate in Hobart in 2011.
The sentence is back dated to 2012, meaning Gardner will spend at least another 11 years in jail.
After Gardner was sentenced, his father yelled at Justice Tennent: "Do you really think that's fair your honour? Do you really think that's fair?"
Gardner winked at his father and told him to come and visit as he left the court.
Justice Tennent told Gardner his attack had left one man dead and another brain-damaged.
"The attack involved what can only be described as mindless, alcohol-fuelled violence," Justice Tennent said.
"Not only is one man dead, but another is brain-damaged."
She told Gardner he had an unenviable record of violence for someone so young.
Jamie Peter Smart received a four-year sentence for causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Waller.
Smart had already served 22 months, and the remainder of the time was suspended on condition he is of good behaviour for three years.
Both men had prior convictions for violent crimes, including assault.
Jamie Smart had previously been convicted of killing two kittens by pulling their heads off.
In sentencing submissions last month, Crown prosecutor Yolanda Prenc told the court Gardner's attack on Williams was fuelled by alcohol and took place in the victim's own home.
"You could be satisfied when the attack commenced against the deceased. He had little capacity to defend himself because of his intoxication," she said.
"I submit that this was a sustained and violent attack of the worst kind against a vulnerable victim, who was, by all accounts, sleeping or barely conscious with little ability to defend himself."
But Gardner's lawyer Greg Richardson told the court last month the prosecution's description of Gardner's attitude after the attacks as "brazen" was wrong, and might instead indicate Gardner was intoxicated and did not recognise the seriousness of what had happened.
