‘Sadistic’ torturer’s appeal bombshell
Written by admin on October 29, 2024
WARNING: Confronting details
A man serving multiple life sentences for the “sadistic” torture and sexual assault of a woman has secured legal aid funding to appeal his conviction – despite pleading guilty to the offences four years ago.
Nicholas John Crilley has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence for the brutal ordeal against the woman, which left her permanently disfigured.
The woman was kept against her will in a townhouse in Bulimba and a hotel room in Brisbane by the former banker, during a days-long drug-fuelled bender in 2017.
Over 23 days Crilley repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted her – pouring boiling water and acetone over her body and forcing her to perform bestiality.
He then left her in the hotel room before dialling triple-0 and fled.
Brisbane District Court described the torture as “sadistic” during his sentencing in 2020.
On Tuesday, Crilley was not brought before Queensland’s Court of Appeal when solicitor Thomas Teys appeared over phone.
The court was told legal aid funding had been secured for a King’s Counsel to appear in Crilley’s appeal against his conviction.
“That is 100 hours of preparation time and the involvement in the appeal,” Mr Teys told the court.
He said Craig Eberhardt KC would be appearing in the matter, pending confirmation from his office.
Queensland Court of Appeal Justice Debra Mullins asked: “If you’ve got legal aid funding for a silk, if Mr Eberhardt is not available you’ll be able to get another silk?”
Mr Teys said he had struggled to find a King’s Counsel who was “not conflicted” in the matter.
The matter was adjourned for a further mention in December.
“The sentence leave application was filed in 2020 – the conviction appeal in 2023,” Justice Mullins said.
“I’ve reviewed it many times with Mr Crilley in person, something’s really got to move now.”
Crilley was handed seven consecutive life sentences in 2020 after pleading guilty to a raft of charges, including torture, deprivation of liberty and rape.
The woman suffered significant burns to her body and some of her wounds were infested with maggots when paramedics found her, initially thinking she was dead.
During his sentencing, the court was told the offences started over the baseless belief the victim was somehow involved in a drive-by shooting against Crilley.
He was arrested following a wild chase through Brisbane’s suburbs where he stole cars to evade police.
