‘Monster’ who shot dead teenage son and son’s girlfriend loses bid for reduced sentence

Cheers erupted in an Adelaide court as the “monster” who murdered his teenage son and his son’s girlfriend in South Australia’s south-east lost his appeal to have his prison sentence reduced.

Pawel Klosowski shot his 19-year-old son Lukasz and his son’s 19-year-old girlfriend Chelsea Ireland at his Mount McIntrye property, near Millicent, in August 2020.

In rejecting his appeal, one of three judges described Klosowski’s crime as “so shocking and senseless” that it transcended “any ordinary understanding of human behaviour”.

“The appellant’s offending … involved a sustained episode of shockingly brutal, yet deliberately and purposefully executed, violence,” Justice Sam Doyle wrote.

The 47-year-old Klosowski was sentenced in April to at least 34 years in jail for murdering the young couple, described by their families as “two innocent and loving angels” who “made the world a better place”.

Klosowski then appealed against his non-parole period, saying the jail term was “excessive” and the sentencing judge had not taken into account his remorse and contrition.

“He is genuinely overwhelmed with grief and remorse that he killed his own child and Chelsea,” his lawyer Nick Vadasz told the Court of Criminal Appeal earlier this month.

But the Court of Criminal Appeal found the sentence imposed for the double murder was appropriate.

The Supreme Court previously heard Klosowski had drunk at least one carton of beer when he got into an argument with his son, loaded his shotgun and killed him, before firing through a locked bathroom door at Ms Ireland, who was on the phone to emergency services.

When police arrived, Klosowski was sitting with the firearm on his lap.

During sentencing submissions, Klosowski apologised to the Supreme Court for “acting like a monster” and said he did not understand why he had killed “two wonderful young people”.

‘We’ve still got a life sentence’, mum says

In their published judgement, Justice Doyle, Justice Trish Kelly and Justice Mark Livesey found the non-parole period of 34 years was “not manifestly excessive” and that no error in sentencing had been established.

“Not only was this a double murder, but it involved an extraordinary response to what many would consider a banal domestic disagreement.

“The appellant’s offending, affected by alcohol, can be seen to be characterised by determination, brutality and purpose.

“As shocking and disturbing as the murder of Lukasz was, the pursuit and killing of Chelsea was simply senseless.”

In court, the families of the two teenagers cheered when the words “dismissed” were delivered.

Outside court, Chelsea Ireland’s parents said they were relieved with the decision.

“We just concentrate on grieving for our children now,” Debra Ireland said.

“So we just have to do our best.”

Lukasz’s mother Magda Pearce said she would always honour her son and his girlfriend, and praised Chelsea Ireland’s bravery.

“Even though they stood no chance, Chelsea still called the police in her last attempt to save them both because no-one else tried to save them,” she said.

“We’ll forever grieve.

“They were great kids and they should be here.”