The vile reason a convicted rapist whose brutal torture of a 22-year-old woman left her permanently disfigured is appealing his SEVEN life sentences
A man who raped and tortured a woman for weeks has appealed his multiple life sentences, claiming he was not credited for his efforts to stop the victim from dying.
Nicholas John Crilley was handed seven life sentences by a Queensland judge in 2020 after pleading guilty to 62 offences including grievous bodily harm, deprivation of liberty, torture and 18 counts of rape.
Crilley's treatment of the woman, aged 22 at the time, in Brisbane in June 2017 left her permanently disfigured.
He was arrested eight days after his offences following a dramatic pursuit through the city, during which he rammed police vehicles and carjacked an elderly woman.
All three justices of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday said they had concerns about whether Crilley had genuine remorse.
'Even when he rings the ambulance, he does not say this is someone who for 23 days has been burned and abused and starved ... and she is likely to die,' Justice Thomas Bradley said.
'He said she had taken a turn for the worse and he did not know what was wrong ... to call that saving her life is a big stretch.'
Justice David Boddice said there were arguments for Crilley wanting his victim to survive so she could suffer more.
'There are actual statements made by him in the course of it that he wanted to disfigure her so she was not attractive to other men,' he said.
'This was about maiming her for later in life.'
Justice Bradley said Crilley's letter to the sentencing judge expressing remorse was 'disturbing' and referred to himself 28 times.
Court of Appeal President Debra Mullins said the letter suggested Crilley had a personality disorder.
'A fair reading of the letter is that it is self-centred,' Justice Mullins said.
Defence barrister Craig Eberhardt told the justices that his client's offences were 'horrendous' and showed 'incredible cruelty'.
'Our submissions do not change the character of the offending. We accept entirely that this remains in the worst category of this type,' he said.
'If (Crilley) had not called an ambulance, therefore saving her life, if he had not pleaded guilty and had cross-examined (the victim) at trial, if he was not remorseful, there would not be a complaint about the sentence imposed.'
The justices heard Crilley acted against his own interests by not letting the victim die, which would have made it difficult to later convict him on multiple counts.
Crown prosecutor Michael Lehane said there was evidence that Crilley thought the victim was so injured she would never be able to testify against him.
'She had not been conscious for three days. His thought was she could not speak,' he said.
'There was no consideration that she would be a critical prosecution witness.'
Mr Lehane said the sentencing judge had considered Crilley's guilty plea.
'The nature of the offending simply overwhelmed these particular mitigating features and warranted life imprisonment,' he said.
The justices reserved their judgment, which will be handed down at an undetermined date.
Justice Mullins thanked Mr Eberhardt and Crilley's legal team.
'It's important that counsel take briefs that are very difficult matters, as this one was,' she said.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Cramlington alcoholic arsonist attacked elderly mum's home
An alcoholic arsonist who deliberately set his elderly and disabled mother's home on fire has been jailed for eight Southern, 61, started two fires at the back door of his 85-year-old mum's home after they fell out over his drinking and persistent pleas for money, Newcastle Crown Court was woken by a vibrating fire alarm beneath her pillow, while neighbours also saw the blaze and came to her was found guilty of committing arson with intent to endanger life. Judge Amanda Rippon said she could not imagine the fear his mother had felt. Southern, of Arcot Avenue in Nelson Village, Cramlington, and his mother previously had a good relationship, but that deteriorated over the 18 months leading up to the blaze because of his alcohol abuse and demands for cash, prosecutor Ian Cook 22 October last year, she complained to police about her son and he was arrested on suspicion of harassment before being released on condition not to go to her he turned up again the following day and police had to be called again, the court heard. Hard of hearing Then, at about 03:00 BST on 24 October, Southern took a ladder so he could scale a locked garden gate and set fire to a mop head and garden gloves beside the back door to his mother's home, Mr Cook smashed a window in the door so the blaze would get inside, the court mother, who was hard of hearing and had put her hearing aids on charge overnight, was asleep in having a stairlift because of her mobility issues, she got downstairs to find the back door ablaze and neighbours at the scene trying to put it out, the court heard. In a statement read to the court, Southern's mother said she felt "at ease" knowing he was in prison "getting help and support" for his issues."Whenever I hear noises, I worry in case it is Paul," she said, adding: "I never thought Paul would do anything like this."Judge Rippon said it was "hard to imagine" what it must have been like for the woman "to find her son set fire to her home intending for her life to be endangered".The judge said Southern was an alcoholic but he refused to accept been deemed dangerous, he must serve an extra two years on extended licence.A restraining order banning him from contacting his mother or going to her home for 10 years was also made. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Police carry out dramatic cocaine drug raid in Double Bay while dressed as tradies
A man has been arrested by Australian Federal Police during a drug raid in one of Australia's most expensive suburbs. Police kicked down the door of a mansion on Holt Street in Double Bay, Sydney, on Friday afternoon where they arrested a 40-year-old man. Officers were operating undercover, wearing bright orange hi-vis work wear to appear to be tradies, The Daily Telegraph reported. Before the arrest, the man had been seen travelling to Sydney Park in Alexandria where he allegedly picked up a bag which allegedly contained cocaine. Investigators then followed him back to the upscale property where heavily armed officers in riot gear arrested him. Alarmed neighbours reportedly contacted NSW Police believing they had heard gunshots. However, it's understood that no shots were fired, the loud noise was the result of the police raid. The man was handcuffed and escorted from the home before being placed in a waiting police van. Publicly available records have shown the property was sold for $4million in 2007. As of Friday night, the man was being interviewed by investigators. No charges have been laid. AFP confirmed in a statement to Daily Mail Australia there is no ongoing threat to the community. The police force said further comments about the arrest will be made at a later time.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Shot father's family makes desperate plea for answers three months after death
The family of a 'loving' brother and father shot dead in a suspected case of mistaken identity have made a moving appeal to the public three months after his death. Mahad Abdi Mohamed, 27, died after being shot on Waverley Road, Tottenham at 8.45pm on 20 March. Appealing for information on her brother's death, Amal Abdi Mohamed said his passing 'tore through our family'. She said: 'Someone knows what happened to him, and yet we are here with no answer, no justice, and just a family torn apart trying to navigate through the pain.'
