Topic: Courts. BJ Williams suffered extensive bruising all over his body. The parents of a two-year-old boy who was beaten to death say they are struggling to understand how anyone could do such a thing. The boy suffered extensive bruising to his head, face, torso and genitals.
The prosecution said Powell took out his frustrations on the toddler after getting into a fight with the boy's mother while on drugs. Powell claimed the boy died after falling out of bed and getting wedged against a wardrobe. During sentencing submissions, the dead boy's mother, Latara Hunt, told the court the guilty verdict triggered so many questions, but most of all why Powell lied to everyone.
I'll never get to hold him in my arms again. Latara Hunt said she was "struggling to understand" her son's death. Outside court she told reporters: "I think he deserves a lot more than what he's going to get. I'm going to grieve for the rest of my life. The boy's father, Brendan Williams, described Powell's actions as inhuman. Mr Williams said he missed his son's laughter, smile and big blue eyes. Powell's defence lawyer Bill Boucaut said the crime was out of character and his client had been well regarded.
Prosecutor Sandi McDonald said it was not a premeditated killing but there was "nothing more abhorrent in society than the murder of a child". Murder carries a mandatory life jail sentence, with a minimum non-parole term of 20 years. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
BJ Williams murder: Grieving parents of 2yo tell court of their struggle to understand killing. BJ Williams murder: Grieving parents of 2yo tell court of their struggle to understand killing By court reporter James Hancock. Footer ABC News homepage.
