A man who helped a woman cover up the murder of her child, Kiesha Weippeart, will be released from prison tomorrow in Sydney.
Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to at least 12 years for manslaughter by gross criminal negligence and being an accessory after the fact to murder in 2011.
Smith’s then-partner, Kristi Abrahams, was convicted of murdering her six-year-old daughter and jailed for at least 16 years.
When he is released, Smith with be subject to strict supervision orders, but that is little solace to those who supported Kiesha.
A former friend of Abrahams turned victim’s advocate, Alison Anderson, told 9News it was gut-wrenching given the timing as it would have been Kiesha’s 19th birthday on Saturday.
Smith knew the girl had been knocked unconscious but did not seek medical attention.
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He disposed of her body, destroyed evidence and gave false accounts to police, media and the Department of Community Services in a “determined and sustained course of conduct” to destroy evidence, Justice Megan Latham noted when sentencing Smith.
The objective gravity of his actions after Kiesha’s death was greater than the manslaughter offence, she said.
“There is nothing to indicate the offender will not comply with those conditions,” new State Parole Authority chair Geoffrey Bellew said at his parole hearing last month.
Smith’s release was supported by reports from the Serious Offenders Review Council and Community Corrections, which will monitor him.
They noted Smith behaved positively in prison, going from maximum to minimum security while completing education programs and working.
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