MELBOURNE - A teenager who fatally stabbed a Melbourne school student in the head with an umbrella has had his sentenced reduced following a retrial.
The boy, now 18 but who cannot be named, was originally sentenced in 2005 to 14 years jail with a minimum nine years
for the murder of year 12 student Christopher Williams in October, 2003.
However the case was retried in 2006 on the grounds the jury had been misdirected. A new jury found him guilty of murder on December 8, 2006.
Today, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell re-sentenced the boy to 11 years and 46 weeks jail. He set a minimum term of seven years and 46 weeks.
The teenager had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Williams, who died after being hit with the metal-tipped umbrella at an Essendon tram stop.
Mr Williams, a student at St Bernard's College in Essendon, had been out with friends celebrating the end of the school year.
In re-sentencing the boy, Justice Bell took into account his youth and the fact the crime was not premeditated.
He said the boy had taken steps to rehabilitate himself through education and counselling.
He also noted he had shown remorse from an early stage and that he had excellent rehabilitation prospects.
In addition, he took into account the delay between the time of his being charged and his final sentence.
- AAP
