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Vindictive dad’s disgusting question after trying to gas himself and his daughter, 3, to death when his wife asked for a divorce
- Shaun Mate sentenced to 14 years jail for attempted murder of daughter
- Prosecutors said intent was clear by buying the nitrogen gas days earlier
- Mate asked police, ‘So, she didn’t die then?’ upon regaining consciousness
- He will be eligible to be considered for parole in July 2029
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An Adelaide father who attempted to murder his young daughter ‘out of spite’ and ‘vindictiveness’ towards his wife has been jailed for 14 years.
Shaun Preston Mate, 45, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his then-three-year-old daughter days before his Supreme Court trial in June.
The dad’s desire to hurt his wife was revealed clearly when he regained consciousness after attempting to gas both him and his daughter and asked police, ‘So she didn’t die, then?’
Mate purchased a pair of nitrogen gas tanks in July 2020, two days before the crime, and released the gas after an argument at dinner with his then-wife.
Shaun Preston Mate, 45, has been sentenced to 14 years behind bars for the attempted murder of his three-year-old daughter. He will be eligible to be considered for parole on July 2029
Shaun Mate (pictured) pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his then-three-year-old daughter days before his Supreme Court trial in June
Police officers found the 45-year-old and his daughter unresponsive, suffering from hypoxia at their Adelaide home.
The toddler spent five days in intensive care at hospital and took weeks to recover from the gas attack.
Sentencing Mate on Friday, Auxiliary Justice Geraldine Davison said Mate had emotional issues and was paranoid his wife would divorce him but that in no way excuses him of the act he carried out.
‘I regard this offence as being at the high end of the scale of seriousness, ‘ she said, according to Adelaide Now.
‘The victim was a vulnerable child, your planning indicated it was premeditated, and it was the most significant abuse of the trust placed in parent.’
Mate was sentenced to 14 years behind bars for attempted murder.
He will be eligible to be considered for parole in July 2029.
Mate being rushed to hospital after the gas attack
The court heard leading up to the attempted murder, Mate’s marriage was ‘falling apart’ and he had become both verbally and physically abusive.
In a submission to the court in June, the ABC reported prosecutors claimed the ‘premeditated’ attack was an act of ‘spite’ against his now ex-wife.
Prosecutor Kos Lesses said the girl was lucky to survive and referred to Mate’s callous question about asking if his daughter died.
‘That comment has relevance in refuting [a previous] suggestion that he did not have recall of the offence incident,’ Mr Lesses said.
‘This was planned, premeditated, with spite and an element of vindictiveness.’
Defence lawyer Marie Shaw in June said Mate ‘deeply regretted’ his actions and hoped he could one day regain the trust of his daughter who ‘he loved’.