Bridge-throw father Arthur Freeman gets minimum 32 years jail

Arthur Freeman will be eligible for parole in 2041, after a judge found he was not "beyond redemption" despite murdering his four-year old daughter Darcey by throwing her off Melbourne's West Gate Bridge.

Victorian Supreme Court judge Paul Coghlan this morning said although his actions were "horrible" there was nothing in Freeman's past history that would make the possibility of parole inappropriate.

"The throwing of your four year old daughter from a bridge more than 80 metres above the ground could not have been more horrible," justice Coghlan said.

"What Darcey's last thoughts might have been does not bear thinking about, and her death must have been a painful and protracted one.

"I am satisfied that you continue to lack any insight into your offending and I regard your prospects of rehabilitation as bleak.

"You are yet to say sorry to anyone for what you have done.

"Whatever happens, you will spend what may be regarded by many as the best years of your life in prison."

Freeman, 37, stood and spoke loudly from the dock about alleged Australian Federal Police phone taps and a Barnes family member's involvement in the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia before being escorted out by security staff.

Prosecutors had argued for a life sentence, while Freeman's barrister David Brustman SC said he should have a possibility of parole.

A range of psychiatrists giving evidence for the prosecution said Freeman may have been mildly depressed, but had control of his actions and still knew right from wrong when he killed Darcey on what would have been her first day of school.

Minutes before the murder Freeman telephoned Darcey's mother, Peta Barnes, and told her to "say goodbye to your children" and "you will never see your children again".

He parked his 4WD in the left-hand emergency lane of the bridge, coaxed Darcey out of the car and picked her up.

Freeman then carried the child in his arms to the edge of the bridge and threw her over the edge.

Justice Coghlan said Freeman's conduct was a most fundamental breach of trust and an attack on the institution of the family.

"It can only be concluded that you used your daughter in an attempt to hurt your former wife as profoundly as possible.''

During his three-week trial Freeman did not deny killing Darcey, but his barrister argued Freeman was "mad not bad'' when he threw her from the bridge.

He pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mental impairment but a jury last month found him guilty of murder.

Justice Coghlan said he had taken Freeman's mental illness into account when deciding to set a non-parole period and its length.

The day before he killed Darcey, Freeman had the amount of time he had custody of his children reduced by a court.

After the hearing he drove to his parents' house in the seaside hamlet of Aireys Inlet where his three children had been staying.

The next morning Freeman's father Peter noticed his son was distressed and appeared to be in a "trance''.

As Freeman drove away from the bridge after murdering Darcey, his six-year-old son Ben urged him to turn back.

"Darcey can't swim,'' Ben told his father.

Freeman drove to the Commonwealth Law Courts complex in the CBD and tried to hand his two-year-old son Jack to security staff.

Freeman then became distressed and started crying and shaking.

He was later arrested at the complex.

Today, several members of the jury that convicted Freeman were in court to hear the sentencing.

Neither Freeman's parents, nor the Barnes family, made comment as they left the court.

(Published by The Australian - April 11, 2011)