Life Sentence for Brutal Murder of Queensland Woman: In a horrific incident, a man has been sentenced to life in prison for brutally stabbing 23-year-old Queensland woman Gabrielle Marshall to death in a frenzied attack. Tasmania Supreme Court Justice Tamara Jago deemed it one of the worst cases. The tragic incident occurred in June 2021,
The perpetrator, Colin William Drake, resided only 200 meters away in assisted accommodation. Breaking a supervision order, he sneaked out in the early hours of the morning armed with two knives. The horrifying attack unfolded while Marshall was asleep on the floor of her friend’s house. Awoken by screams and bangs, Marshall’s friend confronted Drake, discovering his blood-covered face.
Justice Jago expressed concern that Drake posed a lifelong danger to the community, emphasizing the limitations in his rehabilitation due to intellectual disability and personality traits. Following the murder, Drake displayed a degree of cunning, deceiving carers and police with lies. Despite his claims of breaking a knife while fixing a cupboard, the blade was found beneath Marshall’s body.
The motive behind Drake’s frenzied attack remains unclear. Speculations include a fixation on obtaining cigarettes or driven by sexual desire, possibly choosing the house because women resided there. The brutal nature of the assault left Marshall terrified.
Colin William Drake, aged 37, pleaded guilty in September and has been sentenced to life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole until 2041. Tasmania’s parole board will subsequently determine if Drake poses a safe release.
A mental health report from June 2021 highlighted Drake’s poor adherence to rules, previous assault on a carer, and possession of dangerous implements in his room. Justice Jago acknowledged Drake’s challenging childhood of neglect and deprivation, further emphasizing the immense pain caused to Gabrielle Marshall’s family.
In heartfelt testimony during November proceedings, Marshall’s parents conveyed the profound loss, emphasizing how Marshall had felt the safest she had ever been in Tasmania, calling her family every night. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of such horrific events striking any family.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is the sentence for murder in Queensland?
A convicted murderer in Queensland faces life imprisonment with no chance of early release, often serving a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility.
How long would you be in jail for killing someone?
In states that don’t have the death penalty, if you’re found guilty of first-degree murder with aggravating factors, you’ll most likely get a life sentence in prison with no chance of ever getting out.