Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Murdering Uncle Amid Abuse Accusations

A Melbourne man, Jethro Curtis, 44, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder of his uncle, Stephen Curtis, 63. The killing occurred in their shared Maffra home on January 18. Jethro Curtis had accused his uncle of physical and sexual abuse, allegations that have not been proven in court.

According to reports, the day before the murder, Jethro Curtis contacted his aunt, warning that his uncle's days were numbered. On the evening of January 18, after consuming cannabis, methamphetamine, and prescription medication, Jethro Curtis entered his uncle's room. He assaulted Stephen Curtis, punching and kicking him before fatally strangling him with a telephone cable.

Following the murder, Jethro Curtis accessed his uncle's bank account, transferring $5000 to himself. He also stole Stephen Curtis's car, abandoning it in a shopping center car park before taking a train. Over the next few hours, he withdrew an additional $4000. He confessed to the killing to former partners and his mother, who subsequently contacted authorities.

Paramedics discovered Stephen Curtis's body on January 19. Jethro Curtis was arrested in Seaford, a Melbourne beachside suburb, where he admitted to the murder, stating he had "snapped" and believed his uncle was a child molester. He pleaded guilty to murder in July.

During the sentencing, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Rita Incerti described the act as a brutal attack on a frail and defenseless victim. Justice Incerti acknowledged Curtis's history of abuse, violence, and drug use, as well as his diagnosed complex post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and cannabis dependence, which were considered to have reduced his moral culpability. The judge also noted that Curtis's early guilty plea indicated remorse and warranted a discount on his sentence. Jethro Curtis will be eligible for parole after serving 17 years of his 24-year sentence.