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Tasmanian man Michael John Price loses bid to reduce sentence for setting partner alight.

A Tasmanian man who doused his girlfriend in petrol and set her on fire has lost an appeal to have his sentence reduced.

Leesa Jacobs had been dating Michael John Price, 45, for 18 months when he set her alight inside the garage of their Austins Ferry home in June 2015.

Ms Jacobs was left permanently disfigured with burns to 25 per cent of her body.

Price was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with a six-year non-parole period.

He was also convicted of three counts of assaulting Ms Jacobs, including choking her and breaking her wrist, between August 2014 and June 2015.

His lawyers appealed the sentence on the grounds it was “manifestly excessive in all its circumstances” and provided examples of similar cases where the sentence was less onerous.

William Ayliffe SC argued other domestic violence cases in recent years had only attracted sentences of between three and seven years.

“A sentence of 10 years is a very heavy penalty,” he said.

“While domestic violence is unacceptable, the offender is entitled to a sentence that is consistent with others.”

But Justice Shan Tennent said this was not an ordinary case.

“This is not a case of comparing the severity of injuries in particular cases,” she said.

“The attacks by Mr Price on his partner [took place] over several months.”

Justice Helen Wood said the ordinary sentencing range only applied in ordinary cases.

“I’m unconvinced that this is an ordinary case,” she said.

The judges unanimously dismissed the appeal.

The original sentencing judge, Justice David Porter, said Price had “consigned Ms Jacobs to a lifetime of pain — physical and emotional”.

In August, the mother of four spoke about the attack, urging other women to leave abusive relationships.

This post originally appeared on ABC News

 

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