CASE: Liu v R [2023] NSWSSA 30

How should elderly offenders be punished by the criminal justice system? Should old age result in a shorter imprisonment sentence?

Those are the questions that were considered in this case.

Zhiyun Liu was 81 years old when he assaulted his wife and attempted to kill her. He pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm with intent to murder and was sentenced to a maximum penalty of 25 years and a standard non-parole period of 10 years.

He appealed against the severity of his criminal sentence arguing that the judge had failed to property consider his advanced age.

WARNING: This episode contains disturbing details of violence.

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

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