Jason Milhuisen, a 39-year-old man, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for the murder of Daniel O’Shea, a known career criminal. During the sentencing at the Supreme Court, Milhuisen remained seated, showing defiance towards Justice Jane Dixon, who presided over the case. A jury found him guilty of shooting O’Shea four times in a brazen public attack at Fawkner Park, Melbourne on April 26, 2019.
The crime occurred around 7:30 pm when witnesses reported hearing gunfire. O’Shea suffered three gunshot wounds to the body and one to the head. Although Milhuisen denied being the shooter, the jury concluded that he was responsible for the fatal shots.
Justice Dixon highlighted the severity of the offence, describing it as a grave act reflecting a “callous disregard for the precious value of human life.” She acknowledged O’Shea’s history of convictions for drug trafficking but noted that Milhuisen did not have any personal vendetta against him. Instead, she suggested that Milhuisen acted as a “gun-for-hire” on behalf of others, indicating that the murder had the hallmarks of a premeditated hit.
The judge pointed out that the attack was particularly shocking as it took place in a public area, although fortunately, there were no bystanders present at the time. An aggravating factor in the case was Milhuisen’s decision to dispose of two firearms in the park while fleeing the scene.
Despite acknowledging the challenges Milhuisen faced while in custody and the impact of family separation, Justice Dixon determined that he exhibited no remorse for his actions. Consequently, she assigned him a lengthy prison term, with eligibility for parole after serving 21 years, taking into account the four years he has already completed of his 25-year non-parole period.
As the sentence was announced, Milhuisen continued to refuse to stand, a customary practice in the courtroom. His barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, expressed that Milhuisen maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the conviction.