Foreign student attackers avoid jail time

A THIRD man convicted over an attack on foreign students in Hobart has avoided a jail sentence.

Shawn Woolley, 20, of Hobart, was given a nine-month suspended jail term and 175 hours community service today by Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Alan Blow, who said the attack harmed Australia's international reputation.
Woolley had pleaded guilty to assaulting Singaporean law student Poh Leong Kee and his female friend, Chinese accountancy student Ting Xiang.
Woolley punched her in the face as his two drunken mates joined the attack near the University of Tasmania last March in an idiotic attempt to steal Mr Poh's car, the court was told.
The attack preceded the killing of Chinese University of Tasmania business student Zhang Yu in Hobart in June last year.

Hobart men Stavros Papadopoulos and Daniel Williams, both 21, are in custody awaiting trial after being charged with murder.

Woolley's Hobart mates Brodie Cockshutt, 20, and Aaron Farrell, 19, earlier this month received suspended jail sentences after they pleaded not guilty to the attack on Mr Poh and Ms Ting.

While Mr Poh gave evidence in person in Hobart against Cockshutt and Farrell, Ms Ting is still too traumatised to give evidence, even by video-link from China, where she returned after the attack, the court was told.

Justice Blow sentenced Cockshutt and Farrell to five months' jail, which was suspended on the condition they be of good behaviour for three years, and perform 210 hours of community service.
Mr Poh has been fearful for his safety since the attack and had moved to a more expensive, secure rental worried the men may return, Justice Blow said.
There has been no evidence presented to suggest race was a motive in the attack on Mr Poh and Ms Ting or the killing of Ms Zhang.

Summary:
In this news, Shawn Wooley who was found guilty after assaulting Poh Leong Kee and Ting Xiang avoided jail sentence after being sentenced only nine-month suspended jail term and 175 hours community service. Wooley with his two drunk friends assaulted both of them in an attempt to steal Mr Poh's car.

Both of Wooley's friends were also sentenced to five-month suspended jail term on condition they be of good behaviour for three years and perform 210 hours of community services.
Mr Poh ang Ting Xiang both are International students in University of Tasmania. Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Alan Blow said the attack caused harmed to Australia's International reputation.

Critique:
The news was about an assault towards two international students that currently studying in University of Tasmania. The cause of the attack was found out to be an attempt to steal their car. From my opinion, a more sevier punishment should be sentenced to all 3 of them since it involves international students. Apart from humiliating themselves, they are also putting their country name on the line.