AN AIR of anger and frustration cast a pall over Leeton as news spread the man who callously sold rings taken from the fingers of murdered former Canowindra resident Stephanie Scott would be walking the streets again in less than three weeks.
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Ms Scott’s family and supporters swept out of the Leeton courthouse in dignified silence on Thursday after Marcus Stanford was jailed for 15 months, backdated to June 10 last year when he went into custody, after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact murder.
But the head of Griffith police local area command, Superintendent Michael Rowan, said Ms Scott’s family was shattered.
“And I don’t think any result today will make any difference,” Superintendent Rowan told media.
Earlier, Superintendent Rowan said Stanford’s sentence was “in terms of the offence he was charged with, within the (sentencing) guidelines and probably what we were expecting”.
Asked if he thought people would agree, Superintendent Rowan said: “No, I don’t think the community will share that view at all.”
He said Ms Scott’s family had been spoken to before the sentence was handed down and were aware of what the likely outcome would be.
“Notwithstanding that, they are shattered and will continue to be shattered,” he said.
Superintendent Rowan told media Ms Scott’s murder would always impact on Leeton.
“All the town does is come together and support each other and that will continue to occur,” he said.
Leeton mayor Paul Maytom said the community had to accept Stanford’s sentence.
“However, it leaves an extremely bitter taste in our mouths because of the circumstances surrounding it, and that is a simple fact,” Councillor Maytom said.
“It probably won’t go down too well with Stephane’s family and friends.”
He said at least the guilty pleas by Marcus Stanford and his brother Vincent would spare her family the anguish of disturbing evidence at trials.
