Man, woman jailed over fatal bashing of teen Jason Galleghan after dispute over stolen AirPods in Sydney's west
By Jamie McKinnellIn short:
Richard Sione and Kayla Dawson were sentenced over the fatal bashing of 16-year-old Jason Galleghan at a Doonside home in 2021.
Sione was given a maximum jail sentence of 32 years, while Dawson received a maximum 20 years.
Sione will be eligible for parole in October 2045, while Dawson will be eligible in August 2034.
A man who "lit the fuse" for the fatal bashing of a teenager in Western Sydney as retribution during a dispute over stolen AirPods has been jailed for a maximum 32 years.
Richard Sione angrily interrogated Jason Galleghan before he began the ferocious assault in the bedroom of a Doonside home in August 2021.
Five minors continued the attack when Sione left, and parts of it were filmed on mobile phones.
The 16-year-old died two days later as a result of complications from blunt force trauma.
In total, the attack lasted some 33 minutes.
Jason Galleghan was lured to the home by Kayla Dawson, who suspected he had stolen her AirPods.
Sione, who was twice Jason's age at the time, and Dawson, then 19, were each found guilty of murder following a joint judge-alone trial in the NSW Supreme Court, on the basis they had formed a joint criminal enterprise to commit the crime.
Justice Robert Hulme on Friday said the attack was prolonged and the recordings needed to be seen to appreciate the "brutal savagery" involved.
He accepted that it was Sione who showed those present the "brutality" that could be inflicted.
"It was the benchmark for the violence to be inflicted in the joint criminal enterprise."
Justice Hulme wasn't convinced about a submission from the Crown that Sione had "gathered" the juvenile offenders around him.
"I am satisfied he played an influential role, but the evidence does not go so far as to establish something of that nature," the judge said.
He handed Sione a maximum sentence of 32 years, with a non-parole period of 24 years.
Dawson was sentenced to a maximum 20 years with a non-parole period of 13 years.
Sione referred to as 'Dad'
Earlier today Sione's counsel, Taran Ramrakha, told the court there was no evidence of his client giving "directions or instructions or anything of that nature" to the underage participants, who referred to him as "Dad" or "uncle".
Mr Ramrakha said those children were "quite violent and lived in a particularly violent social milieu", urging the judge to keep in mind the social context of the offending.
He said all the evidence at trial, including Sione's own exposure to violence growing up, should be taken into account before he could be labelled as "some elder who had a duty to exercise control over the children".
Crown Prosecutor Phillip Hogan had called for the imposition of a life sentence.
Mr Hogan suggested the ferocity of Sione's attack was equivalent to the attack that continued after he left by the "young, impressionable, angry people" present.
"In effect, that leadership role makes him responsible for every punch, every kick and every stomp after he left."
Sione made no effort to reign in the impulses of the young people but was an enthusiastic participant, Mr Hogan told the court.
"Sione was the person who lit the fuse. Sione initiated the violence once Jason arrived."
He encouraged the young people to a "lawless, antisocial, fairly depraved sort of existence" and when the opportunity for violence emerged, he set "an example of extreme brutality" knowing others would follow, the prosecutor said.
Although Dawson didn't strike any blows, she was physically present and encouraged those blows to be struck, the judge was told.
Justice Hulme accepted Dawson was remorseful, although he noted that this position was different to her attitude in the aftermath of the attack.
"She blames herself for telling others that he had stolen her AirPods as it would not otherwise have happened," he said.
Jason's loss 'has been unbearable'
Jason's mother, Rachel Galleghan, told the morning's sentencing hearing that she thinks about him every second, desperately wishing she could hear his voice and "just be his mum".
"My son was the kindest person with the biggest heart," she said.
"He genuinely cared about the people in his life."
Ms Galleghan said what her son endured in the Doonside house "haunts me every second of the day".
"It will stay with me forever.
"The pain, trauma and heartbreak of losing Jason to such a violent act has been unbearable. I am completely broken without him."
Ms Galleghan also said words cannot express how much she loathes Dawson and Sione.
"Jason trusted her. He cared for, supported and stood by her. I will never understand her actions."
Both of the sentences were backdated to take into account time already served.
Sione will be eligible for parole in October 2045, while Dawson will be eligible in August 2034.
The other young people involved have previously been sentenced for either murder or manslaughter over their respective roles.