The State Government is taking swift action to address shortcomings in the law highlighted by the tragic killing of Millicent woman Synamin Bell.


Ms Bell’s killer Cody James Edwards pleaded guilty to manslaughter and on Friday he was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of eight years and 10 months.


Edwards, 27, was sentenced in a rare sitting of the Mount Gambier Supreme Court by Justice Adam Kimber for killing the mother of three in her Poole Street home on the evening of March 12, 2022.


Edwards pleaded not guilty to murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter less than a week into his trial in June with a defence of excessive self defence.


His sentence was backdated to March 2022 when he was first taken into custody.


He will be eligible for parole in January 2031.


Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the government was investigating law reforms so the partial defence of excessive self-defence would no longer be available to individuals who killed someone as a result of delusions they were experiencing as a result of self-induced intoxication.


Minister Maher said the government will be consulting with key legal bodies and the broader community before introducing any legislation to State Parliament.


“Synamin Bell’s family not only lost a loved one, but they also have to live with the trauma of the fact that Ms Bell’s killer was able to plead guilty to a lesser charge because of a loophole in our laws around excessive self-defence due to self-induced intoxication,” he said.


“While cases like this are exceedingly rare, the Government recognises that action must be taken.


“What we have seen from this case is the laws as they currently stand do not meet community expectations.


“The government has been working on draft legislation to remedy this.


“As this is an especially complex area of law, we intend to consult broadly before bringing any legislation to State Parliament.”