The father of murdered teenager Rebecca Middleton last night said he was glad to hear the DPP was about to lodge an appeal on the sentence of Justis Smith - but said it would have little bearing on his life.

Dave Middleton, from Belleville, Ontario, in Canada, said he believed anybody who stabbed someone in the stomach should be tried for attempted murder, anyway, but said even for unlawful wounding, a 12 month sentence is not enough.

"I guess I feel the sentence was pretty cheap, considering the cost on the other side of the coin and what this girl's whole family probably went through," he said.

"I don't think a short sentence like this sends the right message to Justis Smith or the community, or other goons out there thinking about doing the same thing.

"And there will be no improvement in his behaviour.. How can he be rehabilitated? I see no improvement at all.

"Although I think the appeal is in the right direction, I wouldn't say I'm happy about it because how can it affect my life? Nobody has still been made to pay for what happened to Becky."