Convicted murderer Jesse Willis sentenced to 24 years imprisonment

The 30-year-old Maryborough man was sentenced on Thursday to a 24-year jail term with a non-parole period of 20 years for the murder of Deer Park man Ricky Lee Ganly.

Outside the Ballarat Law Courts Mr Ganly’s family expressed their emotion over the decision, telling reporters they believed justice had been fairly served by Justice Robert Osborn. 

“We’re happy with the outcome,” Mr Ganly’s brother said.

In his delivery to the Supreme Court, Justice Osborn said Willis’ “inconsistent facts” had not fit circumstantial evidence.

“Your statements to police were riddled with lies … those lies continued up until your final statement,” he said.

“The mode of killing itself speaks a mode of deliberate execution.

“Mr Ganly was shot square in the head with a shot angling upward and forward. It is highly unlikely that he would be sitting facing forward as he threatened you, as you maintained, … knowing there was a gun in the back seat and that you were reaching into the back seat.

“You disposed of Mr Ganly’s body immediately after the killing … these actions speak eloquently of consciousness of guilt.”

While Justice Osborn accepted that it was “probable” Willis was a drug addict at the time of the killing, he said despite the widespread use of ice there was no evidence the drug is associated with any increase in the overall rate on homicide in the state.

“Drug-fuelled violence won’t be tolerated by the community,” he said.

He also told Willis he was not satisfied the killing occurred in response to threats by Mr Ganly.

“Nor am I satisfied you felt any real remorse to the killing and its aftermath,” he said.

“Following it you robbed a dead man’s car and then disposed of his body in a calculated and callous manner. And you did not respond to the search for Mr Ganly when he was missing and, left his body to rot.

“It may be that you felt somewhat regret. But I don’t accept you feel that you accepted responsibility for your actions and the loss of another human life.”

On sentencing, Justice Osborn said he would take into consideration the fact Willis had made a “serious contribution” to trying to improve himself for a “more productive life”, but noted he “had a long way to go.”