Sentences handed down this week in the Supreme Court of Victoria have sparked outrage and despair among the families of victims and the wider public, with critics arguing the penalties fail to adequately reflect the severity of the crimes committed.
In one case, Milena Bogojevska, 51, was sentenced to eight years in prison with a non-parole period of six years for the killing of 85-year-old Milena Bogojevska. Bogojevska was found to have beaten the elderly woman, stuffed a sock down her throat, and disposed of her body in a river before embarking on a shopping spree. The victim's daughter expressed profound grief and anger at the sentencing, telling the killer "may you rot in hell," to which Bogojevska reportedly replied, "You too." The plea deal that allowed Bogojevska to plead guilty to manslaughter had already been a source of contention for the victim's loved ones.
A day prior, the same judge, Justice Jacinta Forbes, sentenced Milorad Zaric, 48, to 21 years and five months in jail, with a non-parole period of 14 years and six months. Zaric, an unemployed carpenter, was convicted of stabbing mother-of-two Vicky Apostolopoulos, 51, multiple times in her home on November 16, 2024. The court heard that Zaric had been using ketamine, alcohol, and cannabis in the days leading up to the attack. Ms. Apostolopoulos had reportedly shown neighborly kindness to Zaric, even bringing him homemade cupcakes two days before her death. During the violent incident, Zaric stabbed Ms. Apostolopoulos in front of her two children. Her son, then 16, attempted to intervene and protect his younger brother, sustaining a punch to the jaw during the struggle. He managed to subdue Zaric until his younger brother escaped and police were called.
Families of both victims have voiced their deep disappointment and sense of injustice. Mary Kadis, sister of Vicky Apostolopoulos, described the sentence as "disgraceful and beyond acceptable" and stated that the justice system had failed her sister and her family. Ms. Kadis tearfully told reporters that while the killer has "hope for freedom," her nephews are now without a mother and the family faces a lifetime of loss. Ms. Apostolopoulos's son, Riley Van Aken, who was 16 at the time of the murder, slammed the sentence as "horrific," stating that his mother's killer should have received life imprisonment without parole.
Justice Forbes, in her sentencing remarks, noted that the prison term and non-parole period could not reflect the immeasurable loss of Ms. Apostolopoulos, who was described as vibrant, generous, and well-loved. Similarly, in the case of Ms. Whitehand, the judge's sentencing remarks also acknowledged the deep loss experienced by the victim's family.
The public reaction, as evidenced by online comments on news articles about the sentencing, indicates widespread dissatisfaction with the outcomes. Many expressed feelings of anger and disbelief that individuals convicted of such violent crimes could be granted the possibility of early release.