Toddler BJ Williams bashed to death: Murderer Brock Powell jailed for 21 years
ABC
By court reporter James Hancock March 7, 2014, 12:54 pm
A man who bashed a toddler to death is to spend at least 21 years in prison.
The South Australian Supreme Court convicted Brock Michael Powell, 25, of murder after hearing he took out his frustrations on his partner's two-year-old child BJ Williams.
The court heard the man, who was drunk and on drugs, earlier fought with the boy's mother about a debt.
Powell's life jail sentence for murder carries a non-parole term of 22 years, but he has been given eight months' credit for time already spent in custody and on home detention bail.
The toddler died at a granny flat at suburban Melrose Park in January 2012.
Powell claimed the boy fell out of bed and got wedged against a wardrobe but the prosecution said the toddler had blunt-force trauma to his head and extensive bruising, consistent with a beating.
Justice Tim Anderson said the sight of BJ's badly-bruised body must have been gut-wrenching for his family.
He said the number and extent of the injuries showed it was a vicious attack and medical evidence showed the degree of force applied was substantial.
Powell maintains his innocence and shook his head in the dock as the sentence was handed down.
Justice Anderson said Powell might have a future if he took advantage of training opportunities while in jail.
Outside court, the dead toddler's father Brendan Williams said no sentence could be enough.
"Nothing brings back my son, so doesn't really matter how long he gets," he said.
"He'll get what's given to him while he's in jail, he's with the big boys, they'll get him."
An auntie of the toddler told reporters she was relieved Powell had not got away with it.
Jody Ware said her nephew could finally be at peace.
"Play in peace and enjoy his little buddies up there, hopefully there's a better life up there for him," she said.
