Marcus Stanford appears likely to walk free next week after the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to appeal his sentence for being an accessory after the fact to the murder of schoolteacher Stephanie Scott.
His identical twin, Vincent, sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed Ms Scott at Leeton High School in NSW on Easter Sunday last year.
Marcus Stanford, 25, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to Ms Scott’s murder.
Last month, he was sentenced to one year and three months in jail, but with time already served he will be eligible for release on September 9 — next week.
Premier Mike Baird ordered a review into the sentence.
But today, in a statement, the DPP said it would not appeal the sentence.
“I have decided not to appeal the sentence imposed by Justice Hulme in relation to the charge of accessory after the fact to murder against Marcus Stanford,” the DPP said.
“I have formed the view that there are no reasonable prospects of success on an appeal against the inadequacy of the sentence.”
More than 50,000 people have signed an online petition opposing Stanford’s sentence.
Organisers of the petition have also planned a march in Leeton on Friday.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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In my opinion this sentence is laughable