Dad may serve only 18 months for bone breaking assault on 3-month-old son (Albany, West Australia)

Oh yes, dads are so mistreated and misunderstood down in Australia. Take poor dad JONATHAN STEPHEN LOWE. He assaults his 3-month-old son so badly that the child has 38 BROKEN BONES. And dad's just going to do just 18 months in jail for it. Yup, dad sure is the victim here (now where is my barf bag?).

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/father-may-only-serve-18-months-for-bone-breaking-assault-on-son-20091013-gvsd.html

Father may only serve 18 months for bone breaking assault on son
October 13, 2009 - 7:44PM

A 34-year-old man has been jailed for three years after assaults on his infant son that left the child with 38 broken bones.

Jonathon Stephen Lowe, of Albany, was sentenced to three years' jail, with a non-parole period of 18 months, after pleading guilty in the District Court in Perth to the grievous bodily harm of his three-month-old son.

Lowe admitted to injuring the boy during what the court was told were at least two serious assaults between March and April last year.

Judge Michael Bowden sentenced Lowe for the assaults that led to the child receiving 33 fractured rib bones, and did not take into account five fractures to his legs.

He said the injuries, which did not constitute a threat to life, had resulted from the man's "deliberate, non-accidental" mishandling of the child.

He said doctors' evidence indicated the boy had been heavily squeezed on at least two occasions, and had been in danger of having his lungs perforated as a result of the multiple rib fractures.

Judge Bowden said Lowe had endured unfortunate childhood circumstances, including a poor relationship with his adoptive parents.

He had medical problems through a rare genetic disorder, known as Usher's syndrome, which could ultimately lead to him losing his eyesight and hearing.

He had been using alcohol, marijuana and amphetamines at the time of the violence towards his son.

Judge Bowden said Lowe had shown remorse for his actions and accepted the need to undergo rehabilitation.

Notwithstanding this, the offence was a serious one and a sentence of immediate imprisonment was appropriate.

He said Lowe appeared to be in a stable relationship with his partner of three years and anxious to accept treatment for his anger management problems, which could have triggered the assaults on his son.

Lowe's lawyer Mara Marone said the child was now in foster care, had no permanent injury or discomfort from his injuries and had not been the subject of a prolonged and brutal attack.

She said psychiatric reports had indicated there was a good chance of Lowe's rehabilitation.

He was sentenced to three years with a non-parole period of 18 months, to be served from March this year, when he was taken into custody.

Judge Bowden placed him under a permanent violence restraining order covering conditions of access to his son.