Brittany McCulloch: Woman in shocking domestic violence murder of partner Jordan Caine appeals jail term

A woman who beat her boyfriend to death in an “uncontrolled rage” potentially lasting hours is appealing her sentence, with her belated expressions of remorse in the spotlight. Brittany McCulloch bit, whipped and hit Jordan Chas Caine with an array of weapons including a broken mop, rake, extension cord, scissors and a skateboard at their Alkimos home in July 2022. He died from bruising — internal bleeding — with a post-mortem examination finding the 34-year-old had suffered more than 50 separate injuries to his head, back, arms, legs and abdomen. “It takes a certain mindset to be able to do that over a period of time ... there’s an element of torture,” Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said at McCulloch’s Court of Appeal hearing on Thursday. “One of the chilling features of the injuries in this case is there doesn’t seem to be a fatal blow. “This is a man whose dying process took a decent amount of time ... this larger man was unable to stop her.” Neighbours reported they heard screaming about 1.30am - as they often had, describing McCulloch as clearly the “aggressor”. Then about 6am, she called triple-0, claiming to have found her partner of eight months on the floor, having self-harmed. It was a lie she repeated to police multiple times and was set to fight the murder charge at trial but finally pleaded guilty a week beforehand. Justice Quinlan said the case remained “a massive mystery” because McCulloch, 31, went on to tell lies to mental health professionals, including a “detailed account of a sexual assault”. “We’re just left with lies or silence,” he said. Justice Quinlan questioned the genuineness of the remorse her lawyer Christian Porter said she had found and argued the sentencing judge had not put enough weight on. The judge noted that after “complete denials” in three police interviews - and a long pause - she merely said: “I accept the charge”. As McCulloch watched on via videolink from Bandyup Prison, Mr Porter argued his client’s non-parole period of 19 years and six months was manifestly excessive. He said sentencing judge Justice Stephen Lemonis did not give her enough credit for her guilty plea, or put enough the weight on psychological and psychiatric evidence. McCulloch had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from her chaotic upbringing, and she may have been suffering a “hypomanic episode” on the night of the murder, he said. Justice Quinlan said that at first blush, the jail term did seem high after a guilty plea but there were “very serious features” to the “horrible” case involving fear and pain before the victim died. McCulloch herself described Mr Caine as “soft, nurturing, shy and kind-hearted”, and that he was the most “loving person” who struggled with anxiety and depression. Justices Quinlan, Gail Archer and Joshua Thomson have reserved their decision.