Mackenzie Anderson: Longer term urged for brutal killer Tyrone Thompson to send DV message

A longer jail term for a man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend 78 times in two minutes is needed to send a message about domestic violence murders, a trio of judges have heard.

Mackenzie Anderson, 21, was killed by ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson in a frenzied knife attack in 2022 while he was on parole and subject to an apprehended violence order.

His 22-and-a-half-year jail term in May was quickly appealed by prosecutors who argued on Friday it was “manifestly inadequate”.

Crown prosecutor Monica Millward urged the panel of judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal to use the case to send a strong message to the community about domestic violence.

Imposing a longer jail term would also repair the public’s damaged confidence in the criminal system caused by an inadequate sentence, she argued.

The sentencing judge took into account the need to deter domestic violence offenders and the harm done to the community by Thompson’s deadly acts, the court was told.

But it wasn’t evident in the penalty, Ms Millward said.

Thompson committed domestic violence offences against three women before murdering Ms Anderson.

The prosecutor said the seriousness of the case “speaks for itself”.

Given the prevalence of domestic violence murders in Australia, she argued Thompson’s offending presented a “broader opportunity to offer some guidance to sentencing courts”.

Chief Justice Anthony Bell expressed scepticism about whether the case and the relevant issues rose to the level required for the court to intervene to give guidance.

Thompson’s barrister agreed, highlighting three domestic violence-related appeals in the jurisdiction since 2018.

The sentencing judge rightly found the killer’s mental health, difficult upbringing and youth reduced his moral culpability, barrister Richard Wilson SC said.

The sentence was in line with similar offences, he said.

“This case just does not stand out. It doesn’t manifest itself as inadequate,” he told the judges.

“No utility, no guidance could be provided going forward.”

After the sentencing in May, Premier Chris Minns said the family deserved justice for the “horrific murder of their daughter” while Ms Anderson’s mother described the jail term as “an insult to women globally”.

“I’m hopeful this is starting a larger conversation across Australia about domestic violence, about sentencing, about prevention,” Tabitha Acret said.

Thompson and Ms Anderson had been involved in an on-again, off-again relationship marred by domestic violence since late 2019.

He was jailed in October 2021 for assaulting the young woman, intimidating her and destroying her property before being released on parole on March 9, 2022.

Thompson became jealous when she got into a relationship with another man and threatened her from jail and through a third person.

Before he was released, Ms Anderson feared for her life and predicted he would kill her.

Thompson murdered her 16 days later after breaking into her apartment in the Newcastle suburb of Mayfield.

“It took as many times to stab her till she f***ing stopped,” he said about the staggering number of blows.

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