An aboriginal thug who was jailed indefinitely for stomping on the head of a frail and drunk homeless man 51 times in the Northern Territory will now be eligible for release in just three months.
Clifford Hughes, then-28, attacked his vulnerable victim, 50, outside a Palmerston shopping centre in February 2016, leaving him with horrific injuries, and was given an indefinite sentence with a nominal period of 14 years after being convicted of attempted murder.
But NT Supreme Court Justice Stephen Southwood, who sentenced Hughes in 2017, last month discharged the indefinite period after saying he was “not satisfied to a high degree of probability that the offender is still a serious danger to the community”, NT News reported.
Hughes was given a sentence of 14 years backdated to his arrest, with a 10-year non-parole period, meaning he could be released as early as February 2026.
Justice Southwood received reports that Hughes was “actively engaged” in counselling sessions in prison, and had a “strong work ethic” behind bars while taking part in gardening and horticulture programs.
A psychologist also submitted a report stating that in order for Hughes to remain a low risk of reoffending it was a “critical factor” that he must abstain from alcohol.
In sentencing Justice Smallwood called the attack “sustained and deliberate” and noted Hughes, who claimed he could not remember the assault because he was drunk, had no compassion for his victim, and the court heard he had no history of mental health issues.
Hughes came across his victim sleeping on a concrete path and started rifling through his pockets, unleashing his sickening 15-minute attack after the man woke up.
The vicious stomping left Hughes’ clothes soaked in blood, but he then caught a bus to Darwin to go drinking.
His victim, who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, multiple rib fractures, facial soft tissue and bone injuries, a fractured jaw, a broken collarbone and multiple lacerations, would have died of head or airway injures if not rushed to hospital.
Header image: CCTV of the attack (supplied).
