A man who fatally stabbed a father in Geelong during an attempted car theft may be eligible for release from prison in less than four years. Bailey Clifford, 20, has been sentenced to a maximum of eight years and six months for the manslaughter of Paul Grapsas, with a non-parole period set at five years. Having already spent over a year in pre-sentence detention, Clifford could soon walk free.
The tragic incident occurred on September 14, 2023, when Grapsas, aged 40 and the father of two, confronted Clifford as he rummaged through the family car parked outside Grapsas’s home after a late-night dog walk. During the ensuing struggle, Clifford stabbed Grapsas seven times, including a fatal wound to the upper back, before fleeing the scene with the victim’s wallet and keys, leaving Grapsas to succumb to his injuries on the street.
Grapsas’s body was discovered hours later by his wife, Jessica, who was six months pregnant with their third child. The courtroom was filled with emotion as Justice Rita Incerti condemned the killing as “cowardly and reckless.” However, she noted Clifford’s youth, a history of brain injury, and his early guilty plea as factors that justified a reduced sentence.
As it stands, Clifford’s actions have resulted in a life-altering tragedy for Grapsas’s family, who are grappling with the loss of a loving husband and father.