Prosecutors have appealed for murderer Jeffrey Lee to be given a tougher jail sentence, arguing its length did not sanctify human life.
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On March 10, 2015, Lee, 48, had bashed his stepfather Neal Keith Wilkinson, 61, to death when the older man apparently stopped him from seeing his mother and an argument broke out.
![Jeffrey David Lee pleaded guilty to the murder of his stepfather. Jeffrey David Lee pleaded guilty to the murder of his stepfather.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7152f8ee-4555-4bcb-b05b-7e24fc0d8431/r0_0_604_594_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Mr Wilkinson lived with Lee's frail mother and was her primary carer.
Lee left the house after the bashing but shortly returned. He responded to requests for help from his bedridden mother, including to bring her a cup of tea, before confessing to killing Mr Wilkinson.
![Murdered: Neal Keith Wilkinson. Photo: ACT Policing Murdered: Neal Keith Wilkinson. Photo: ACT Policing](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/55db4dcd-fe9d-489f-8524-13e0ffe149f7/r0_0_433_421_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"I lost my temper and punched him," it was said Lee told his mother.
Lee disconnected the phone and wouldn't let his mother call police.
He left and stole from the house a pillowcase with $53,000 in cash.
Lee's mother struggled from her bed and, seeing Mr Wilkinson lying face down in the entry foyer, called the neighbours for help.
When he was arrested Lee told police he was using ice and heroin.
He later pleaded guilty in court to murder and theft.
Last year Chief Justice Helen Murrell sentenced Lee to a total 13 years and six months in jail, with a non-parole period of seven years.
He got 12 years - reduced from 15 years for the guilty plea - for murder and two years and six months - reduced from three years - for theft.
Chief Justice Murrell found Lee did not intend to kill Mr Wilkinson, but with the blows to the head he had intended to cause serious harm.
She said the fatal attack was not premeditated.
Under the sentence Lee would be eligible for parole in March 2022.
Prosecutors say the sentence was manifestly inadequate.
"Fifteen years [for the murder] starting point doesn't sanctify the human life," the Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said.
He also called three years for the theft "inexplicably inadequate".
Defence barrister Ken Archer argued against a tougher sentence saying it was unwarranted in the circumstances of the murder.
The lawyers addressed a full bench of the ACT Court of Appeal, made up of Justices Michael Elkaim, David Mossop and Michael Wigney.
The three judges reserved their decision.