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Vincent Stanford Plans To Appeal Life Sentence For Stephanie Scott's Murder

As the family comprehends the death of her father.
Vincent Stanford is taken by police from the Griffith courthouse in October.
Fairfax: Peter Rae
Vincent Stanford is taken by police from the Griffith courthouse in October.

The man charged with murdering New South Wales school teacher Stephanie Scott is planning to appeal his life sentence, as the Scott family comprehends the death of another family member.

Vincent Stanford's lawyers submitted a notice of intention to appeal in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal last week, according to Fairfax.

The development emerges one day after the tragic news Stephanie Scott's father, Robert, was killed by a falling tree on the family's property.

Robert, 59, who was clearing trees on the farm was found early on Tuesday morning and emergency services arrived at the property on Namami Road, near Canowindra, in the central west of New South Wales at midday.

His death comes less than three weeks after Stanford was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Stanford killed Stephanie Scott on Easter Sunday last year as she prepared work for a relief teacher at Leeton High School. She was due to marry her childhood sweetheart Aaron Leeson-Woolley that week.

Robert Scott (R) at the Griffith Court House for Vincent Stanford's sentencing.
Fairfax: Anthony Stipo
Robert Scott (R) at the Griffith Court House for Vincent Stanford's sentencing.

Stanford was a cleaner at the school and attacked Scott, 26, as she left the grounds. Scott's burnt body was found four days later at Cocoparra National Park.

Before Stanford was sentenced in October, the court heard the cleaner had conducted internet searches including "bride rape" and "bride killing".

Stanford's mental health was also assessed twice, with both assessments diagnosing him with autism spectrum disorder.

The 25-year-old told one psychologist, Anna Robilliard, that he attacked a teacher when he was 12 years old -- choking her -- which left him in a mental health unit for several months.

Stanford told Robilliard "he had thoughts of killing someone from the time he was seven or eight years old and when he saw Ms Scott he had to kill her".

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