A serial criminal and long-term drug addict has admitted he did not stop taking drugs after killing university student Clea Rose, rehabilitation, time in jail, with family support or after the birth of his son.
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However, at a sentence hearing on Monday for breaking a prison guard's neck while high on the drug ice the 27-year-old man told the court he was now off drugs.
"I've been able to deal with a lot this past year," the man said, "I think I'm in a position where I can change my life."
The Canberra Times has chosen to refer to the man’s role in the death of student Clea Rose - in which he stole a car and during a police chase struck the woman - and so cannot name him because he was a child.
The man was most recently on trial in the ACT Supreme Court where he was found guilty of a threat to kill, assault and causing grievous bodily harm after an incident in his prison cell.
The trial heard one guard had been taken to hospital and had surgery on a shattered nasal bone, spending days in hospital. The base of his skull and a vertebrae had also been fractured.
He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and had not returned to work.
The 27 year old offender gave evidence at the hearing on Monday, telling the court he was sorry and did not mean to hurt the guard.
He was on ice during the incident and told the court he had been in a psychosis.
He said he was now off drugs and looking towards the future.
But in cross-examination he agreed that he had not been able to stop taking drugs even after killing Ms Rose, rehabilitation, time in jail, with the support of his mother, or after the birth of his son in 2015.
The prosecutor Anthony Williamson asked the man what was going to make him stop.
"I think for some people the penny just drops and I feel like that's happened," he said, "Now I know how rewarding it is to put in effort ... [and] reconnect with family."
The man agreed in response to the prosecutor's questions that he was remorseful, but said he did not believe he should spend a significant amount of time in prison for the assault.
"I think I'm in a position where I can change my life."
He denied that he was not genuine in his remorse, and denied he was just saying what the judge wanted to hear.
Chief Justice Helen Murrell sentenced the man on Monday to four years and seven months in jail, setting a non-parole term of two years and five months.
He will be eligible for parole February 2020.
