Vincent Stanford has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal rape and murder of NSW school teacher Stephanie Scott in 2015.
According to reports, while being handed his punishment by Justice Robert Hulme at Griffith courthouse in southwest NSW Stanford, 25 was told he had shown no hint of remorse for the slain bride-to-be and his crimes could only “be met with only one response”.
Stanford was sentenced to 15 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault, but did not impose a non-parole period as there was “no utility” due to the life sentence for murder, reports 9 News.
“There was not the slightest hint of remorse,” Judge Robert Hulme said, adding Stanford was a “very disturbed individual”.
Ms Scott, 26, was last seen in April 2015 at her workplace in Leeton High School in western NSW just days before her wedding.
Stanford, who worked at the school, later confessed to killing her and dumping and burning her body 70km away to the Cocoparra National Park.
After the sentence was handed down Ms Scott’s mother Merrilyn Scott spoke on behalf of the family about how the murder had devastated their family and Stephanie’s fiancé, Aaron Leeson-Woolley.
“So much has been taken away from us and Stephanie has had everything taken away from her,” Merrilyn Scott said.
“Losing her has shattered so many lives and we are all struggling with the consequences.
“We have had to show restraint in all we have said and done and have had to grieve in the public eye.”
She thanked police and detectives for their work on the case and for their “humanity and compassion in such difficult circumstances”.
Tomorrow would have been Stephanie Scott’s 28th birthday – the second birthday her family will celebrate without her.
Merrilyn Scott said that her family would be having a cup of tea and a mint slice biscuit at 3pm – the time Stephanie was born on October 14 1988 – and invited those who wanted to remember her daughter to do the same.
VIDEO: Vincent Stanford pleads guilty to murder of teacher Stephanie Scott
.jpg)
