Man sentenced to 24 years for killing frail uncle after abuse accusations
Jethro Curtis received a 24-year prison term for murdering his 63-year-old uncle Stephen Curtis in Maffra, after claiming the elder had abused him.
In a case that began with accusations of sexual and physical abuse, Jethro Curtis, 44, killed his 63-year-old uncle Stephen Curtis in their Maffra residence on January 18. After using cannabis, methamphetamine and anti-psychotic medication, Curtis battered Stephen before strangling him with a telephone cable. He then accessed Stephen's bank account, transferred $5,000, stole the car, and traveled to a shopping centre before boarding a train to Pakenham and later being arrested in Seaford.
Curtis confessed to detectives, claiming he "snapped" over the abuse allegations. He pleaded guilty to murder in July, and Victorian Supreme Court Justice Rita Incerti sentenced him to 24 years, citing the victim's frailty and Curtis's complex PTSD, depression and drug dependence as mitigating circumstances. He will be eligible for parole after 17 years.
Why it matters
The case highlights issues of family violence, mental health and the legal response to severe domestic homicide.
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