Former stockbroker William Richardson jailed after shopping centre axe attack on wife
A former Tasmanian stockbroker has been sentenced to seven years' jail for attacking his wife with an axe in a busy Hobart shopping centre.
A jury last month found William Henry Richardson guilty of grievous bodily harm, but not attempted murder.
On March 6 last year, Richardson attacked his wife with an axe in front of their two children at Shoreline Plaza in Howrah.
The court heard Richardson's wife had taken out a family violence order against him and he was not allowed to speak to her or their children.
On the day of the attack, Richardson had encountered them at the plaza by chance and spoke to them from a distance.
He then took his shopping out to his car before going back inside to buy an axe.
He then used the axe while it was still in a bag to
attack his wife in front of their two children.His wife suffered
five blows to her head and body.Justice Stephen Estcourt said the court had heard evidence Richardson's wife would require "ongoing psychological treatment" and she and their children all feared "for their future and safety".
He said Richardson's offending was at the upper end of the sentencing scale for a charge of grievous bodily harm.
Justice Estcourt said it was an act "aggressively committed" in front of the victim and the defendant's two children and the "extent of ongoing remorse was not evident".
Richardson must serve a minimum of four and a half years before he is eligible for parole.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-03/william-richardson-jailed-after-axe-attack...minimum 4.4 yrs? the courts are a joke.