BY SALONEE MISTRY
Public outcry could see the jail sentence handed to wife killer Borce Ristevski appealed, with thousands signing an online petition since yesterday's verdict.
The 55 year-old was sentenced in the Melbourne Supreme Court to nine years jail, but could be free in just four and a half years due to time already served and parole for good behaviour.
Ristevski killed his wife in 2016 at the couple's Avondale Heights home, dumped her body in bushland and lied to investigators, his family and the public for almost three years.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March, on the eve of a jury being empanelled for his murder trial.
Within hours of yesterday's jail sentence being delivered, five separate petitions began on Change.org, which called for the Department of Public Prosecutions to appeal the sentence as manifestly inadequate.
The largest petition, started by lobby group Proper Sentences, called for 15,000 signatures.
At the time of print, more than 14,000 people had signed it.
The petition reads, “The prison sentence handed to Borce Ristevski on 18 April 2019 for the manslaughter of his wife Karen is manifestly too short.
“At a time when violence against women is being condemned across Australia, this 9-year sentence (with a 6-year non-parole period) does not reflect community opinion.”
The Red Heart Campaign founder Sherele Moody advocates for domestic violence victims and was appalled by Ristevski’s sentence.
Mojo News spoke with Ms Moody, who said she posted her thoughts on Facebook yesterday and had nothing more to add.
Her post read, “If you ever wanted evidence that women mean nothing - this is it.
“Today an Australian judge handed abusive men the perfect reason to kill their female partners - a disgustingly short prison term to get rid of the person who becomes and inconvenience.
“I have seen people charged with arson, fraud and drug supply get harsher sentences than this.”
The Office of Public Prosecutions said the sentence was now being reviewed, according to the ABC.
"This sentence, like all sentences, will be under review for possible appeal. However, no decision has been made as yet," the spokesperson told the national broadcaster.