The Bribbaree home where 65-year-old Nerol Doble was murdered in January 2024 was destroyed by fire during the incident. Photo: Supplied.
A Supreme Court judge has sentenced 44-year-old Shannon Doble to almost 23 years in prison for the murder of his 65-year-old mother at her Bribbaree home, describing the killing as a “brutal and horrific” act carried out in “an appalling and callous demonstration of uncontrolled anger and resentment”.
Doble was sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday (6 May) to an aggregate term of 22 years and nine months’ imprisonment for murdering Nerol Doble at her Bribbaree home near Young in January 2024 and assaulting his then-16-year-old niece during the same incident.
The sentence was backdated to account for time served and carries a non-parole period of nearly 17 years, which means he can be released from December 2040.
The court heard the fatal incident was sparked by an argument over a missing drill chuck key at the Bribbaree property.
Justice Julia Lonergan detailed how Doble set fire to the house before repeatedly dousing his mother in fuel as she lay injured outside the home.
His then-16-year-old niece suffered burns during the incident as she attempted to help her grandmother – an act for which the judge later described her as “a hero”.
In sentencing remarks, Justice Lonergan described the killing as a “brutal and horrific” act carried out in “an appalling and callous demonstration of uncontrolled anger and resentment”.
She said Nerol Doble had been “a much loved partner, mother and grandmother” whose life ended in horrific circumstances at the hands of one of her own sons.
The court accepted Doble suffered from a number of mental health conditions, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder, and he had experienced an extremely difficult childhood.
Justice Lonergan found those matters reduced Doble’s moral culpability to a degree, but did not excuse the crime.
“The offender’s mental conditions and deprived childhood provide some explanation and context to the offending,” she said.
“I have found that they mitigate his criminality to a degree. They do not excuse it.”
The judge also referred to evidence from psychiatrist Dr Andrew Ellis, who found Doble would have known what he was doing was wrong.
“Dr Ellis explains that the offender would have known what he was doing was wrong, but went ahead and did it anyway,” Justice Lonergan said.
The court heard Doble pleaded guilty to murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in September last year, entitling him to a 25 per cent sentencing discount.
Justice Lonergan also took into account admitted offences including setting fire to the Bribbaree home after the killing.
The judge described the arson as “vindictive and destructive”, noting accelerants had been used during dangerous summer conditions in regional NSW.
The court had earlier heard victim impact statements during proceedings in April, including from Nerol Doble’s granddaughter, who spoke of the trauma and grief left by the killing.
In Wednesday’s sentencing remarks, Justice Lonergan said the teenager had “provided a shield and love and comfort to her nan in the face of terrifying events”.
“She was only 16 years old when she did this,” the judge said.
The court also heard statements from other relatives describing the killing as “despicable and unforgivable” and detailing the ongoing trauma experienced by the family.
One family member told the court: “I will always be mentally tortured by the images of my mum on her deathbed.”
Nerol Doble’s partner described her as kind, loving and hardworking, telling the court she loved her Bribbaree property, gardening and animals and “should still be doing what she loved”.
Justice Lonergan said Doble had reasonable prospects of rehabilitation, noting his willingness to engage in counselling, work undertaken in custody and support from family members.
But concerns remained about his tendency to “victim blame”, including attitudes towards both his mother and a previous partner.
As Doble departed the dock following sentencing, people in the public gallery heckled him, calling him “a dog”, among other insults.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.
