6 days ago
Chante Lee White gets life sentence for murder of Kayla Golding in Townsville
A north Queensland woman has been given a life sentence for the fatal stabbing of her former roommate at their apartment in Townsville more than four years ago.
Chante Lee White, now 33, was found guilty of the murder of Kayla Golding on May 21, 2021, by a jury in Townsville's Supreme Court.
Throughout the trial, her defence had argued White, who had pleaded not guilty, was under the influence of drugs and did not intend to kill Ms Golding.
Police found White hiding in a cupboard two days after the stabbing and told officers at the time she "simply did not know" what happened to Ms Golding.
The court heard White murdered Ms Golding, 29, with a hunting knife, which caused an 86 millimetre wound to her neck.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said the pair had been involved in a dispute about White's partner.
"The murder was callous; while it involved a single slicing wound to the neck, it was a significant injury with force involving an inherently dangerous weapon," she said.
"The offending was a deliberate and intentional act.
"The defendant showed callousness when she fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency services and hid from police for two days."
Ms Sheppard said in a recent hearing after her conviction, White told the victim's family to "go die in a hole …" as she left the courtroom.
"The defendant has shown no remorse," she said.
Defence barrister Harvey Walters told the court his client had a troubled background and was deeply remorseful.
In a victim impact statement read aloud by the prosecution, Ms Golding's father, Russell Miller, said he was forever reliving the visit from police when they informed him his daughter had died.
"He misses being able to share life's milestones as well as life's small joys that come with being a parent," Ms Sheppard said.
Ms Golding's mother, Michelle, told the court she struggled to enjoy life after the loss of her daughter.
"To try to plan the funeral for my only child is a pain I would not wish on anyone else," she said.
"My whole family and my future family were stolen from me on that night.
On Tuesday, Justice David North sentenced White to life imprisonment.
"Yours was a violent killing. You showed no remorse," he said.
"Your actions in attempting a clean up and disposing of the knife suggest that you tried to cover your deeds in an attempt to escape justice.
As the sentence was handed down, cheers erupted from the courtroom, which was packed with Ms Golding's family and supporters.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Michelle Golding said Kayla's memory would "live on forever".
She welcomed the sentencing but said it would "never bring Kayla back".
"I feel like two bricks have been taken off my shoulders," Michelle said.
Justice North declared that 1,542 days spent in pre-sentence custody by White would be deemed time already served and made no declarations of parole.
