Brett Peter Cowan etched his named into Australia's criminal history when he was convicted of killing 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe in Queensland. Despite the teen disappearing in 2003, it wasn't until 2011 when Cowan was arrested and then it was 2014 when he was sentenced to life behind bars.
Because the case and subsequent trial received a huge amount of publicity, there was no doubt that Cowan would have had a target on his back when he entered prison. Those fears were realised last year when a fellow inmate poured boiling water on Cowan and smashed a bucket over his head several times.
That man, Adam Paul Davidson, has pleaded guilty to torture and has been sentenced to an additional three years' jailtime. However, with time already served, it's understood he'll be released on parole late next month.
Davidson watched Cowan's movements for a month, and got the idea to scold him after seeing another inmate's scars following a similar attack. The 31-year-old snuck up on Daniel Morcombe's killer while he was playing cards with other prisoners and poured the boiling hot water over him. Cowan suffered burns to 15 percent of his body and had to be hospitalised to prevent infection.
Wolston Correctional Centre. Credit: Channel 9
Channel 9 reported that when the incident broke out, Davidson yelled: "This is for the people."
It's also reported that there were several prisoners involved in the attack, however, Davidson told the court: "I did it. Only me, no one else was involved. He had it coming, he's a fucking grub."
The court also heard that Davidson wanted Cowan to 'feel the pain like someone like Daniel Morcombe has felt'. Despite receiving praise from people on social media, the judge certainly didn't see it that way, telling him: "We are all precious human beings, it doesn't matter who we are.
"You have no entitlement to act as a vigilante."
Brett Peter Cowan. Credit: Channel 9
When the attack happened last year, Cowan's lawyer, Tim Meehan, told the Courier Mail: "I understand that there's an awful lot of ill feeling towards him but vigilante justice is something that has never been condoned by the courts.
"It's disappointing that the general manager saw fit to move him from his protective cell, given the fact that there have been wide-ranging calls to take swift and severe action against Brett by all sorts of people."
Davidson was already serving time for not paying his hotel bills and a robbery where he reportedly used his finger as a gun.
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Sources: Courier Mail, Daily Mail
Topics: World News, crime