Brutal cricket bat murderer avoids life without parole
7 May, 2021 12:09 AM
2 minutes to read
John Kenneth Collins. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Otago Daily Times
By: Rob Kidd
A man who beat his friend to death with a cricket bat and dumped his body out of town has avoided a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
The murder of 45-year-old Brent Andrew Bacon on February 4, 2019, represented John Kenneth Collins second strike under the three-strikes legislation (his first came for indecent assault in 2016) but Justice Jan-Marie Doogue, before the High Court at Dunedin today, ruled a whole-of-life term would be grossly disproportionate.
The 39-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
Dunedin cricket bat killing: Brutal murder of friend brings life in prison
7 May, 2021 07:58 PM
4 minutes to read
Mr Bacon’s sister his only sibling Lia Bezett spoke of the pain of her loss. Video / ODT
Mr Bacon’s sister his only sibling Lia Bezett spoke of the pain of her loss. Video / ODT
Otago Daily Times
By: Rob Kidd
A life sentence for the man who beat her brother to death with a cricket bat will never heal his family s wounds, his sister says.
The murder of 45-year-old Brent Andrew Bacon on February 4, 2019, represented John Kenneth Collins second strike under the three-strikes legislation (his first came for indecent assault in 2016).