The Canberra teenager who bashed and killed 82-year-old Richard Cater in a random drug-fuelled attack, apologised and begged forgiveness of the family in court earlier this week.
The teen, who was a minor at the time the crime was committed, earlier this year pleaded guilty to the murder of the grandfather.
After a night out with friends in March 2019, Mr Cater was being dropped off at his house when the teenager, under the influence of LSD, began attacking the group of older people.
According to court documents, the teen was making “monster prehistoric sounds” and repeatedly threatening them, as he tore at the mouth of one man, and snapped the neck of another woman.
“I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you,” he was alleged to have said.
When Mr Cater got out of the car to help his friends who were being attacked, the teenager turned on him, eventually stomping on his head.
Mr Cater died later in hospital as a result of his injuries.
From the witness box, the teen offered his apology to the family and friends of Mr Cater who had lost their beloved father, grandfather and friend due to his drug experimentation.
“I am truly sorry for the terrifying attack that you experienced,” he said, as reported by the ABC.
“Every day I am reminded of the fear and heartache I have inflicted on you and your family and friends.
“For me to accept how this shocking attack was something I was capable of has been very difficult.
“It breaks my heart to know innocent people have been injured and a loved one has died from my drug experimentation, a mistake I will regret for the rest of my life.
“I have taken an innocent husband, dad and grandfather away from his family and friends and left a hole in your lives that I will never be able to fill, but I hope you can forgive me and know that I am truly sorry.”
Earlier in the sentencing, the court heard 17 victim impact statements, 16 of which were read out by the author.
The family of Mr Cater described him as a loving family man, who enjoyed having a joke and telling stories with his family. They explained that they were supposed to be planning his 60th wedding anniversary, but instead planned his funeral.
“The loneliness and fear just never goes away,” his widow said.
The two other victims also gave statements, describing their ongoing injuries and the medical treatment they had to undergo. The man described the stiffness in his jaw that he still experiences, and the surgery he had to undergo to fix a damaged tooth. The woman explained that she needed spinal surgery to manage her injuries, but that she still experiences neck pain and nerve pain down her right side.
Defence barrister Ken Archer said that his client had admitted his wrongdoing and his letter was an expression of sincere remorse for his actions and a true expression of his feelings. He acknowledged that while it could not bring Mr Cater back, it was a demonstration that his client was more than the person who had committed a crime.
He also said that his client had no criminal history, or evidence to suggest that he possessed a naturally violent personality.
“There is nothing in his background that would forecast what would happen,” Mr Archer said.
“His drug taking was experimental, not chronic.”
While ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold acknowledged the offender’s apology as genuine, and expressed that he had excellent prospects of rehabilitation, he said that he must serve his time in jail first.
Mr Drumgold explained that while the offender was a minor at the time, his behaviour and experimentation with drugs was those of an adult, and that he had stolen the “sunset of his life” from Mr Cater.
Justice Michael Elkaim is expected to sentence the teenager on Wednesday.
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While their should be forgiveness, his punishment should be a lifetime of being an example to not act this way or you will sacrifice your freedom. He should be incarcerated for life. His victim had no choice, this criminal did have a choice.