The recent sentencing of Stanley Bruce Early, a now-older Australian man, has brought justice to a brutal crime that occurred over three decades ago. Found guilty of the 1987 gay-bashing murder of Raymond Keam, Early received a sentence that effectively amounts to life imprisonment in a Sydney courtroom late last month.

Justice Served

On October 20, NSW Supreme Court Justice Dina Yehia handed down the verdict, sentencing 77-year-old Stanley Bruce Early to a maximum of 22 years behind bars for the murder of 43-year-old Raymond Keam. The tragic incident took place in a public park during the early hours of January 13, 1987. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the sentence includes a mandatory period of 15 years and six months, ensuring that Early will not be eligible for parole until he reaches the age of 91 in 2037.

The Victim

Raymond Keam, a martial arts expert, unfortunately fell victim to this heinous crime while suffering from an injury that left him vulnerable. Despite being wrongly perceived as gay, Keam identified as straight and was in a committed relationship with a woman at the time. He was divorced from a previous marriage and had two children.

A Brutal Attack

Keam was mercilessly attacked just outside a public restroom in Allison Park by Stanley Bruce Early, who was the “ringleader,” accompanied by a group of youths seeking to assault gay men who frequented the park in search of same-sex encounters. The assailants viciously beat Keam, stomping on his head and chest until he was incapacitated. The medical examiner concluded that one or more fatal blows to the head caused his untimely death. Keam’s lifeless body was discovered the following morning, leaving his loved ones devastated.

An Affront to Civilized Society

During the sentencing, Justice Yehia expressed her strong condemnation of Early’s actions, describing them as “an affront to civilized society.” Despite overwhelming evidence, Early continued to deny his involvement in the murder and displayed no remorse throughout the trial, further exacerbating the severity of his crime.

A Troubled Background

At the time of the murder, Stanley Bruce Early, who was known as Stanley “Spider” Sutton, had a tumultuous upbringing. Reports suggest that he struggled with his own sexuality, now identifying as bisexual. Early was also a survivor of sexual assault during his childhood and had previously served time in jail. Shockingly, he was out on bail when he committed the murder, having been charged with committing an indecent act against a 12-year-old boy.

A Long-Awaited Arrest

After two months of investigation, Early was finally apprehended at his home in Victoria. The arrest came shortly after a $1 million reward was offered for information leading to a conviction in the case. Subsequently, Early was extradited to New South Wales, where he has remained in custody throughout the trial.

A Life Sentence Implied

While Justice Yehia acknowledged that she could not conclusively attribute the fatal blow or blows to Early, she firmly held him responsible for Keam’s death. Although she believed a life sentence was not warranted, Yehia emphasized that there is a real possibility that Early will spend the rest of his life in prison due to his advanced age.