Justin Stein, who was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 2024 for the murder of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, has received an additional prison term for unrelated offences. Stein was last week sentenced in the New South Wales District Court to two years and six months in prison for possessing child abuse material, unauthorised firearms, ammunition without a licence, and theft during an aggravated break-and-enter incident.

The Supreme Court jury had previously found Stein guilty of killing Charlise during a roughly 14- to 15-hour period between the evening of January 11 and the morning of January 12, 2022. The murder occurred at his family’s property in Mount Wilson, located in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales. Justice Helen Wilson described the killing as an “execution,” noting that Stein fired a shot at close range—about 30 centimeters away—to Charlise’s face.

Justice Wilson characterised the crime as “shockingly callous” and “gravely reprehensible,” highlighting the particularly cruel nature of the act given that Charlise had referred to Stein as “Daddy” and hoped he would become the father figure she never had. The judge also criticised Stein for deceptive behaviour, pointing out that he falsely pretended to search for Charlise while preparing to dispose of her body. Stein also gave false testimony in court and displayed no remorse, which contributed to the conclusion that his prospects for rehabilitation were bleak.

Authorities discovered Charlise’s body on January 18, 2022, near the Colo River, where it had been wrapped and left inside a barrel. Although the girl was found wearing the same clothes she last wore, her underpants were missing—a detail that remains unexplained. Toxicology reports indicated the presence of Quetiapine, a medication commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and taken by Stein, in Charlise’s system. However, the court could not establish beyond reasonable doubt that Stein had administered the drug to the child.

Charlise had lived with her grandparents in Tweed Heads and had travelled to Sydney to spend the holiday season with her mother prior to the murder.

The additional offences for which Stein was sentenced include two counts of possessing child abuse material, two counts of possessing an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition without a licence, and theft of less than $60,000 during a break-and-enter offence committed in company. Unregistered firearm possession charges were also considered in the sentencing.

Despite the additional prison term, Stein will remain incarcerated for life without the possibility of parole due to the murder conviction.