Original Article (Gold Coast Bulletin, Liana Turner)
- AFTER a one week high profile trial, solicitor Carl Edwards was able to sucessfully defend two serious charges made by police against Joseph Palermo, each carrying a potential prison term of 14 years. Carl will challenge the severity of the two year sentence handed down his client for two lesser charges of attempting to intentionally damage property by fire or explosive, with an appeal to Lismore District Court. Here is the Gold Coast Bulletin’s coverage of the case:
LOVED ones of a man who twice tried to blow up his former fish and chip shop collapsed in the public gallery as his sentence was handed down.
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton found Joseph Palermo, 40, guilty of two counts of attempting to intentionally damage property by fire or explosive at Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday.
She had earlier dismissed the more serious two charges of dishonestly, with a view to a gain, damaging property by fire.
Ms Stapleton sentenced the Pacific Pines father of three to a total sentence of two years and one month.
Palermo’s wife and friends, who had supported him throughout the hearing, wept when the decision was handed down.
Defence solicitor Carl Edwards said his client would launch proceedings to appeal the convictions and, if that failed, appeal the severity of Palermo’s sentence.