"Neither man showed remorse."
Two Men Sentenced for Fatal Greenbushes Burglary
James Terence Hunt, 33, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years, while Paul Douglas May, 43, received 17 years with a minimum of 15 years for their roles in the death of Raymond Smith, 68. The incident occurred during a burglary at Smith's home in Greenbushes, Western Australia, in December 2023. Hunt was found guilty of murder, and May was found guilty of manslaughter.
The Crime
Smith was assaulted in his home by three men who intended to steal cannabis. He was reported missing, and his body was discovered approximately one month later. All three men were methylamphetamine users who had injected drugs before the burglary.
A third man, Kevin Potter, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years. Potter, a friend of Smith, served as the key witness against Hunt and May.
Court Details
Justice Amanda Forrester stated that the robbery was motivated by the desire to fund the defendants' drug habits.
- Hunt engaged in what the court described as "gratuitous" violence, including dragging Smith by his hair, stomping on his torso, and binding his hands with cling wrap.
- May helped restrain Smith.
The court noted that neither man showed remorse for their actions.
Additional Incident
During the trial, Hunt pleaded guilty to assaulting another man in Bunbury. That assault involved binding the victim's face with cling wrap and stabbing him with a texta. The sentence for that crime will be served concurrently with his murder sentence.
Victim Impact Statement
Smith's daughter, Bronwyn, stated that she experiences anxiety and pain thinking about her father's death. She described him as a loving father and grandfather.
"I experience anxiety and pain thinking about my father's death. He was a loving father and grandfather."