Justin Stein has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his partner’s nine-year-old daughter, Charlise Mutten. The judge labeled the crime as “shockingly callous” and of “great heinousness”. Charlise’s body was found in a barrel next to the Colo River in January 2022, with gunshot wounds to her face and back. Stein, 33, was found guilty by a jury in June of killing the schoolgirl, who was visiting her mother and her mother’s fiancé, Stein, for the school holidays at their Mount Wilson estate, Wildenstein.
In the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Helen Wilson sentenced Stein to life imprisonment, stating that the murder was as grave as possible. She described Charlise’s murder as a “shockingly callous” crime that was “extremely wicked and gravely reprehensible.” She noted that there was nothing to suggest that Stein was capable of true empathy for others, indicating that his dangerousness might be unrestrained. Wilson mentioned that Charlise was shot before she could escape Stein, who then disposed of her body in a “disturbingly callous” manner by filling the barrel with sand, including children’s play sand, in an act of “grotesque cynicism.”
Prosecutors revealed that Stein shot Charlise at his family’s Mount Wilson estate while her mother was staying 1½ hours away at his caravan in Lower Portland. The judge highlighted that Stein gave a “wholly false account” of the events leading up to Charlise’s murder and appeared to be crying during his trial testimony, but she believed he was using tissues as a prop and did not shed a tear. Wilson emphasized Stein’s lack of empathy and his dangerousness, which led to the grave and heinous nature of the crime committed against Charlise, who lived with her grandparents in Tweed Heads.
The judge’s sentencing of Justin Stein to life imprisonment without parole underscores the severity of his crime and the lack of remorse or empathy demonstrated by the perpetrator. Wilson’s characterization of the murder as “shockingly callous” and “extremely wicked” highlights the brutality and heinousness of the act committed against nine-year-old Charlise Mutten. Stein’s actions in shooting Charlise and then callously disposing of her body in a barrel filled with sand were condemned as a disturbing and grotesque display of cynicism by the judge in the NSW Supreme Court. The court’s decision reflects the need to protect society from individuals like Stein, who lack empathy and demonstrate dangerous behavior.
The details of the murder case, including the circumstances surrounding Charlise’s death and the attempts by Stein to deceive investigators and the court with false accounts and displays of emotion, paint a chilling picture of a criminal who operated without regard for the life or wellbeing of a child in his care. The fact that Charlise was shot before she could escape highlights the vulnerability of children in abusive or dangerous situations and the importance of vigilance in protecting young individuals from harm. The sentencing of Justin Stein for his role in Charlise Mutten’s murder serves as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability in cases involving violence against vulnerable members of society.
Ultimately, the case of Justin Stein and the sentencing for the murder of Charlise Mutten encapsulates the tragic consequences of violent and callous actions, particularly those perpetrated against innocent victims. The severity of the crime, the lack of empathy displayed by the perpetrator, and the impact on the victim’s family and loved ones underscore the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring that justice is served. The sentencing of Stein to life in prison without parole sends a strong message about the consequences of committing heinous crimes and the need to protect society from dangerous individuals who pose a threat to the safety and well-being of others, especially vulnerable children like Charlise Mutten.
