The Australian state where babies are most at risk – and offenders cop light sentences

Child killers are being slapped with softer sentences and far less time in jail than those who kill adults – and this rate is particularly high in one Australian state, new statistics show.

Queensland has the highest rate of child homicides in the country with babies under one being the most at risk, according to a report by the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.   

On average, those sentenced for child manslaughter in Queensland were slapped with 6.8 years in prison – while the average jail sentence for adult manslaughter was almost two years more.

Manslaughter sentences were also more common for offenders who killed children (59.7 per cent) than adults (53.2 per cent).    

Queensland has the highest rate of child homicides in the country with babies under one being the most at risk, according to a new report. (Pictured) 18-month-old son Hemi Goodwin Burke was killed by his babysitter, Matthew James Ireland in 2015

Parents Shane Burke and Kerry Anne Goodwin (pictured) are hoping that child killers will receive the maximum punishment for their crimes after their 18-month-old son was killed by his babysitter in 2015

Parents Shane Burke and Kerry Anne Goodwin (pictured) are hoping that child killers will receive the maximum punishment for their crimes after their 18-month-old son was killed by his babysitter in 2015

Child homicide refers to the murder or manslaughter of a person under the age of 18, and the report found that parents and other family members were the most common offenders. 

Dan Rogers from the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council revealed why manslaughter, not murder, was the more likely finding in child homicides.

‘The problem is that murder requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that someone intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm,’ Mr Rogers told the Courier Mail.

‘In these kinds of cases that intent is not always present, or it is difficult to prove because a majority of cases occur within homes,’ he continued.

According to the council’s report, of all sentenced homicide offences involving child victims, 41.7 per cent were murder and 58.3 per cent were manslaughter offences.  

During the same period of time, of all adult homicide victims 48.8 per cent were murder while 51.2 per cent were manslaughter offences. 

The latest national figures show Queensland accounted for 25 per cent of all child homicide incidents in Australia, according to the National Homicide Monitoring Program.

In Queensland the most common cause of child homicides is physical striking which accounted for 21 per cent of deaths.

Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, (pictured) is one of the many child homicide victims from Queensland. She was killed by her father Rick Thorburn in 2015

Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, (pictured) is one of the many child homicide victims from Queensland. She was killed by her father Rick Thorburn in 2015

Tiahleigh's (left) biological mother Cindy Palmer (right) told media after Rick Thorburn's sentence, 'Today's outcome marks a long and painful fight for justice for Tiahleigh'

Tiahleigh's (left) biological mother Cindy Palmer (right) told media after Rick Thorburn's sentence, 'Today's outcome marks a long and painful fight for justice for Tiahleigh'

Tiahleigh’s (left) biological mother Cindy Palmer (right) told media after Rick Thorburn’s sentence, ‘Today’s outcome marks a long and painful fight for justice for Tiahleigh’

Parents Shane Burke and Kerry Anne Goodwin believe sentences are too light for child killers and want a new offence added for child murder.

It comes after their 18-month-old son Hemi Goodwin Burke was killed by his babysitter, Matthew James Ireland in 2015.

While Ireland was originally charged with murder and torture, his manslaughter plea deal was later accepted by the Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, Rick Thorburn was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer, 12, in one of Queensland’s most high-profile child homicides.

His son Trent Thorburn, who was later convicted of incest for having sex with his sister Tiahleigh, was sentenced to four years in jail but was released in January this year after just 16 months.  

Tiahleigh’s biological mother Cindy Palmer told media after Rick Thorburn’s sentence, ‘Today’s outcome marks a long and painful fight for justice for Tiahleigh. But as her mother, no sentence will ever be enough.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk