Nicholas John Crilley, who was sentenced to seven life terms in Queensland in 2020 for a string of severe crimes including 18 counts of rape, has lodged an appeal against his sentences. Crilley, found guilty of 62 offences that included grievous bodily harm and torture, was convicted for his brutal treatment of a 22-year-old woman in Brisbane during June 2017, which left her permanently disfigured.
Following the crimes, Crilley was apprehended after a dramatic car chase where he collided with police vehicles and hijacked a car from an elderly woman just eight days post-offence. During the appeal hearing, all three justices expressed doubts regarding Crilley’s claimed remorse. Justice Thomas Bradley highlighted the troubling nature of Crilley’s communication to emergency services, noting his failure to convey the severity of the victim’s condition, describing her as just having “taken a turn for the worse” without indicating the extent of her suffering.
Justice David Boddice scrutinised Crilley’s motivations, suggesting that he might have wanted the victim to survive merely to prolong her suffering. This notion was reinforced by previous statements Crilley made about intending to disfigure her to prevent attraction from other men. The justices also found Crilley’s letter to the sentencing judge, which referenced himself multiple times, to be self-centred and disturbing, raising further concerns about his psychological state.
Defence lawyer Craig Eberhardt acknowledged the heinous nature of Crilley’s crimes, asserting that while they were atrocious, certain mitigating factors like the guilty plea and actions to save the victim might warrant consideration. However, Crown prosecutor Michael Lehane countered that the severity of Crilley’s offences outweighed these factors, emphasising that the nature of the crimes justified the imposition of life imprisonment.
The justices have reserved their judgment on the appeal, with a decision to be delivered at a later date. The case has sparked significant discourse on the treatment of victims and the implications of such grievous offences, underscoring ongoing support avenues for those affected by similar violence. For help, individuals can reach out to support services such as 1800 RESPECT, Lifeline, or the Men’s Referral Service.