Jethro Curtis sentenced to 24 years for murder of uncle in Victoria

Jethro Curtis, 44, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for the murder of his uncle, Stephen Curtis, 63, in Maffra, Victoria. The attack occurred on January 18, after Jethro Curtis had accused the older man of physical and sexual abuse, though these allegations remain unproven.

According to court proceedings, Jethro Curtis attacked the victim, who was noted to be particularly frail due to Parkinson’s disease, by punching, kicking, and ultimately strangling him with a telephone cable. Following the killing, the perpetrator accessed the victim's bank account to transfer $5,000 and stole the victim's vehicle.

Victorian Supreme Court Justice Rita Incerti described the killing as a “brutal attack” and noted that the “offending was extreme.” Jethro Curtis had previously admitted to the killing to detectives and family members following his arrest in Seaford.