Shanae Heers avoids jail time due to low intelligence after robbery scheme

In December 2021, Shanae Heers, a 22-year-old woman from Victoria, Australia, employed her looks to lure a 36-year-old man to her home under the guise of a sexual encounter. Upon his arrival, the victim found another man claimed to be Heers' brother already present. As Heers misled her victim under this pretense, it became evident that her 'brother' was actually her accomplice, who was intent on robbing him. The situation escalated when the accomplice brandished a gun, coercing the victim to access his bank account. Following the robbery attempt, which resulted in Heers and her accomplice fleeing the scene, she later took a taxi with the stolen cash. When authorities apprehended her, Heers confessed and identified her accomplice. Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that she has a low IQ, which significantly influenced the court's decision to impose a community correction order rather than a prison sentence. Judge Gerard Mullaly emphasized the necessity of a tailored sentence due to Heers' intellectual disability, which contributed to the avoidance of incarceration. Acknowledging her challenging childhood and ongoing struggles with addiction, the court opted to keep her within a community framework rather than a custodial setting. Her barrister argued that Heers remained vulnerable, now a mother facing difficulties in her life. Ultimately, while her actions were serious, the combination of her age, lack of prior offenses, and intellectual limitations meant the legal system chose a rehabilitative approach over punishment. Heers' case raises discussions about the intersection of mental capacity, crime, and justice in Australia, highlighting the complexities of sentencing individuals with intellectual disabilities.