Two people have been sentenced to a combined 36 years’ jail over the Christmas Eve killing of 19-year-old Charlie Gander.
Dimitri D’Elio, 28, was convicted of murdering Mr Gander following a near seven-week trial last July, with his co-accused, Kylie Stott, found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Today, the Supreme Court of Victoria sentenced D’Elio to 26 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 17 years, while Ms Stott was jailed for 10 years with a non-parole period of six years.
The pair’s other associate, Danny Clarke, who helped kidnap Mr Gander, became eligible for parole on the day of his sentencing.
Emergency services found the badly burnt remains of Mr Gander in a car set on fire on a country road in Bunbartha, northern Victoria, on Christmas Eve 2022.
The jury was shown photos taken by Victoria Police of the burnt car with the remains of Charlie Gander. (Supplied: Supreme Court of Victoria)
Mr Gander’s parents say their lives were forever changed when they learned their son was dead on Christmas Day.
Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher became emotional as he readout D’Elio’s sentence, referencing Mr Gander’s father Richard’s victim impact statement.
Justice Croucher told the court the victim’s father said he did not believe for a moment that time could heal all wounds when it came to losing a child.
Dimitri D’Elio attends the Supreme Court of Victoria. (ABC News: Matthew Holmes)
“Sadly, I think he’s right,” Justice Croucher said.
Speaking outside court, Richard Gander said he was “shocked by how lenient [the sentence] was”.
“I’m going to live with this for the rest of my life,” Mr Gander said.
Richard Gander addresses media outside court. (ABC News: Rudy DeSantis)
At a plea hearing last year, the court heard emotional victim impact statements from Mr Gander’s parents, siblings and grandparents.
His mother Alison said that hearing about his death on Christmas Day had made the day one of mourning rather than joy.
Justice Croucher told the court the sentence imposed was not reflective of how much Mr Gander’s life was worth or his family’s suffering, but instead reflected a combination of factors required by law.
Dimitri D’Elio will be eligible for parole in December 2039, while Kylie Stott could apply in December 2028.