Wednesday, October 16, 2013

More than 22 years jail for Canberra murderer - ABC Online


Updated October 16, 2013 12:20:43


A Canberra man who bashed another man to death during a home invasion in 2010 has been sentenced to 22 and a half years in jail in the ACT Supreme Court.


Andre Le Dinh, 26, died of head injuries after a fight which left his living room sprayed with blood.


Neighbours reported hearing loud thumps sounding like someone repeatedly dropping a bowling ball.


Police said that was consistent with Mr Le Dinh's fatal skull fractures.


Earlier this year an ACT Supreme Court jury found Corey Martin, 39, guilty of murdering Mr Le Dinh in his Belconnen apartment in May 2010.


The trial ran for 11 days and took evidence from 41 witnesses including Martin himself and also considered telephone intercepts and recordings from police bugs.


Martin admitted going to Le Dinh's apartment where he said Mr Le Dinh started the fight when he asked for drugs on credit.


But Martin told the court he had only acted in self-defence.


He also said Mr Le Dinh was conscious and standing when he left.


The prosecution pointed to the dramatic weight and height difference between the two, with Martin being considerably taller and heavier than Mr Le Dinh.


This morning Acting Supreme Court Justice John Nield labelled the crime as 'callous' before sentencing Martin to to 22 and a half years in jail.


Martin will not be eligible for parole until April 2029.


Topics: law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, act, canberra-2600


First posted October 16, 2013 11:50:33



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