Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Supreme Court in Brisbane has been told a man jailed for life over the
murder of a Gold Coast book-keeper had a chronic gambling problem. Lydio
Monje Licera, 38, was managing the Seafire restaurant at Burleigh in May
last year when he stabbed to death the restaurant's bookkeeper, 32-year-old
Therese Pieper. The night before, he had stolen the day's takings and lost
the money playing cards at Jupiter's Casino. Defence barrister, Colin Reed,
told the court his client did not intend to kill Ms Pieper, but could offer
no sensible explanation for the murder, except that he has a long-term
gambling problem. Licera was sentenced to life imprisonment with a
recommendation for parole after serving 15 years.