Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Man gets 22 years jail for unprovoked stabbing

A man who stabbed a fellow commuter to death in an unprovoked attack on a Melbourne train has been sentenced to 22 years in jail.

Cory Acuna, 26, stabbed Healesville musician Darren Jones as the train approached Box Hill station in 2006 because he mistakenly believed Mr Jones owed him money and had made a racist comment.

Mr Jones collapsed and died on the platform.

The crime was caught on security video and a jury found Acuna guilty of murder.

The court heard he had injected speed the night before the stabbing and had a history of mental health issues, including drug-induced psychosis.

In sentencing, Justice Paul Coghlan said the crime was gratuitous and random, and those close to the victim were inconsolable.

Justice Coghlan said the case was a cautionary tale for people who promote or condone drug use.

Acuna will serve a non-parole period of 17 years.

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