Mum and son to spend decades in jail for 'cold-blooded' murder of teen
More than three years ago, the family of an 18-year-old Indigenous teenager made a Facebook group titled 'Justice for Taj Hart' after he was brutally murdered in broad daylight.
On June 6, his relatives and friends wore t-shirts emblazoned with the same slogan as they packed out a Wollongong courtroom, where his killers Katie Walmlsey and her son Jayden Walmsley-Hume were sentenced to decades in jail.
"I hope they rot in hell," Mr Hart's grandmother Glenda Hart said, relieved with the judge's sentence.
Walmsley-Hume, 21, fidgeted throughout the hearing and received a jail-term of 23 years and six months, while Walmsley, 41, sat stone-faced and received a jail-term of 21 years and six months.
Justice Robertson Wright described the murder as a "cowardly and cold-blooded attack" that "brutally cut short" Mr Hart's life.
The court heard Mr Hart was walking along Old Southern Road in South Nowra to meet up with a friend on February 24, 2022, when Walmsley-Hume swerved his ute seven metres off the road to hit him.
Walmsley, sitting in the passenger seat, was heard declaring to her son "we got him good" after the grill smashed Mr Hart's torso from behind, causing his body to bend over the bonnet.
"They did not stop, they did not call an ambulance," Justice Wright said.
A woman who was picking her daughter up at the nearby school rushed to Mr Hart's aid, pulling an identification card out of his bag so she could call him by his name in his final moments.
Severely injured, Mr Hart was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital, but he could not be saved.
Walmsley and Walmsley-Hume were arrested at a Sydney motel on April 7, 2022 after they fled the Shoalhaven.
Justice Wright said there had been "growing animosity" between Mr Hart's friend group and Walmsley-Hume in the months leading up to the hit-and-run.
There were a number of fights, one at a park and another at a PCYC, in which Walmsley-Hume "came off second best".
In January 2022, Walmsley-Hume attempted to stab Mr Hart after he ambushed him at his grandmother's house.
Walmsley-Hume was left with a broken elbow after Mr Hart hit him with a pole in self-defence.
Walmsley-Hume said "you're dead" before he left the scene.
The judge said this threat was of particular significance given the offender "saw an opportunity to act on the desire" to have Mr Hart gone the following month.
Justice Wright said Walmsley had participated in some of the feuds involving her son.
"Both mother and son were on the lookout for an opportunity to enact the revenge they wanted," the judge said.
Walmsley participated in Mr Hart's murder by hanging out the window of the ute to locate him, failing to stop and render aid, and telling her son "we got him good".
The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial.
Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future".
"His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said.
"It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy."
The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13.
He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons.
The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction.
The judge took into account Walmsley's depressive disorder, epilepsy, and cannabis use disorder, with the court hearing she struggled with heavy drinking after the deaths of several family members.
He could not accept she had shown any remorse.
Walmsley-Hume will become eligible for release in April 2038, while his mother will become eligible the year prior.
Mr Hart's family smiled and held hands as the sentence was handed down.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of a person who has died.
More than three years ago, the family of an 18-year-old Indigenous teenager made a Facebook group titled 'Justice for Taj Hart' after he was brutally murdered in broad daylight.
On June 6, his relatives and friends wore t-shirts emblazoned with the same slogan as they packed out a Wollongong courtroom, where his killers Katie Walmlsey and her son Jayden Walmsley-Hume were sentenced to decades in jail.
"I hope they rot in hell," Mr Hart's grandmother Glenda Hart said, relieved with the judge's sentence.
Walmsley-Hume, 21, fidgeted throughout the hearing and received a jail-term of 23 years and six months, while Walmsley, 41, sat stone-faced and received a jail-term of 21 years and six months.
Justice Robertson Wright described the murder as a "cowardly and cold-blooded attack" that "brutally cut short" Mr Hart's life.
The court heard Mr Hart was walking along Old Southern Road in South Nowra to meet up with a friend on February 24, 2022, when Walmsley-Hume swerved his ute seven metres off the road to hit him.
Walmsley, sitting in the passenger seat, was heard declaring to her son "we got him good" after the grill smashed Mr Hart's torso from behind, causing his body to bend over the bonnet.
"They did not stop, they did not call an ambulance," Justice Wright said.
A woman who was picking her daughter up at the nearby school rushed to Mr Hart's aid, pulling an identification card out of his bag so she could call him by his name in his final moments.
Severely injured, Mr Hart was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital, but he could not be saved.
Walmsley and Walmsley-Hume were arrested at a Sydney motel on April 7, 2022 after they fled the Shoalhaven.
Justice Wright said there had been "growing animosity" between Mr Hart's friend group and Walmsley-Hume in the months leading up to the hit-and-run.
There were a number of fights, one at a park and another at a PCYC, in which Walmsley-Hume "came off second best".
In January 2022, Walmsley-Hume attempted to stab Mr Hart after he ambushed him at his grandmother's house.
Walmsley-Hume was left with a broken elbow after Mr Hart hit him with a pole in self-defence.
Walmsley-Hume said "you're dead" before he left the scene.
The judge said this threat was of particular significance given the offender "saw an opportunity to act on the desire" to have Mr Hart gone the following month.
Justice Wright said Walmsley had participated in some of the feuds involving her son.
"Both mother and son were on the lookout for an opportunity to enact the revenge they wanted," the judge said.
Walmsley participated in Mr Hart's murder by hanging out the window of the ute to locate him, failing to stop and render aid, and telling her son "we got him good".
The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial.
Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future".
"His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said.
"It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy."
The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13.
He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons.
The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction.
The judge took into account Walmsley's depressive disorder, epilepsy, and cannabis use disorder, with the court hearing she struggled with heavy drinking after the deaths of several family members.
He could not accept she had shown any remorse.
Walmsley-Hume will become eligible for release in April 2038, while his mother will become eligible the year prior.
Mr Hart's family smiled and held hands as the sentence was handed down.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of a person who has died.
More than three years ago, the family of an 18-year-old Indigenous teenager made a Facebook group titled 'Justice for Taj Hart' after he was brutally murdered in broad daylight.
On June 6, his relatives and friends wore t-shirts emblazoned with the same slogan as they packed out a Wollongong courtroom, where his killers Katie Walmlsey and her son Jayden Walmsley-Hume were sentenced to decades in jail.
"I hope they rot in hell," Mr Hart's grandmother Glenda Hart said, relieved with the judge's sentence.
Walmsley-Hume, 21, fidgeted throughout the hearing and received a jail-term of 23 years and six months, while Walmsley, 41, sat stone-faced and received a jail-term of 21 years and six months.
Justice Robertson Wright described the murder as a "cowardly and cold-blooded attack" that "brutally cut short" Mr Hart's life.
The court heard Mr Hart was walking along Old Southern Road in South Nowra to meet up with a friend on February 24, 2022, when Walmsley-Hume swerved his ute seven metres off the road to hit him.
Walmsley, sitting in the passenger seat, was heard declaring to her son "we got him good" after the grill smashed Mr Hart's torso from behind, causing his body to bend over the bonnet.
"They did not stop, they did not call an ambulance," Justice Wright said.
A woman who was picking her daughter up at the nearby school rushed to Mr Hart's aid, pulling an identification card out of his bag so she could call him by his name in his final moments.
Severely injured, Mr Hart was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital, but he could not be saved.
Walmsley and Walmsley-Hume were arrested at a Sydney motel on April 7, 2022 after they fled the Shoalhaven.
Justice Wright said there had been "growing animosity" between Mr Hart's friend group and Walmsley-Hume in the months leading up to the hit-and-run.
There were a number of fights, one at a park and another at a PCYC, in which Walmsley-Hume "came off second best".
In January 2022, Walmsley-Hume attempted to stab Mr Hart after he ambushed him at his grandmother's house.
Walmsley-Hume was left with a broken elbow after Mr Hart hit him with a pole in self-defence.
Walmsley-Hume said "you're dead" before he left the scene.
The judge said this threat was of particular significance given the offender "saw an opportunity to act on the desire" to have Mr Hart gone the following month.
Justice Wright said Walmsley had participated in some of the feuds involving her son.
"Both mother and son were on the lookout for an opportunity to enact the revenge they wanted," the judge said.
Walmsley participated in Mr Hart's murder by hanging out the window of the ute to locate him, failing to stop and render aid, and telling her son "we got him good".
The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial.
Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future".
"His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said.
"It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy."
The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13.
He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons.
The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction.
The judge took into account Walmsley's depressive disorder, epilepsy, and cannabis use disorder, with the court hearing she struggled with heavy drinking after the deaths of several family members.
He could not accept she had shown any remorse.
Walmsley-Hume will become eligible for release in April 2038, while his mother will become eligible the year prior.
Mr Hart's family smiled and held hands as the sentence was handed down.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of a person who has died.
More than three years ago, the family of an 18-year-old Indigenous teenager made a Facebook group titled 'Justice for Taj Hart' after he was brutally murdered in broad daylight.
On June 6, his relatives and friends wore t-shirts emblazoned with the same slogan as they packed out a Wollongong courtroom, where his killers Katie Walmlsey and her son Jayden Walmsley-Hume were sentenced to decades in jail.
"I hope they rot in hell," Mr Hart's grandmother Glenda Hart said, relieved with the judge's sentence.
Walmsley-Hume, 21, fidgeted throughout the hearing and received a jail-term of 23 years and six months, while Walmsley, 41, sat stone-faced and received a jail-term of 21 years and six months.
Justice Robertson Wright described the murder as a "cowardly and cold-blooded attack" that "brutally cut short" Mr Hart's life.
The court heard Mr Hart was walking along Old Southern Road in South Nowra to meet up with a friend on February 24, 2022, when Walmsley-Hume swerved his ute seven metres off the road to hit him.
Walmsley, sitting in the passenger seat, was heard declaring to her son "we got him good" after the grill smashed Mr Hart's torso from behind, causing his body to bend over the bonnet.
"They did not stop, they did not call an ambulance," Justice Wright said.
A woman who was picking her daughter up at the nearby school rushed to Mr Hart's aid, pulling an identification card out of his bag so she could call him by his name in his final moments.
Severely injured, Mr Hart was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital, but he could not be saved.
Walmsley and Walmsley-Hume were arrested at a Sydney motel on April 7, 2022 after they fled the Shoalhaven.
Justice Wright said there had been "growing animosity" between Mr Hart's friend group and Walmsley-Hume in the months leading up to the hit-and-run.
There were a number of fights, one at a park and another at a PCYC, in which Walmsley-Hume "came off second best".
In January 2022, Walmsley-Hume attempted to stab Mr Hart after he ambushed him at his grandmother's house.
Walmsley-Hume was left with a broken elbow after Mr Hart hit him with a pole in self-defence.
Walmsley-Hume said "you're dead" before he left the scene.
The judge said this threat was of particular significance given the offender "saw an opportunity to act on the desire" to have Mr Hart gone the following month.
Justice Wright said Walmsley had participated in some of the feuds involving her son.
"Both mother and son were on the lookout for an opportunity to enact the revenge they wanted," the judge said.
Walmsley participated in Mr Hart's murder by hanging out the window of the ute to locate him, failing to stop and render aid, and telling her son "we got him good".
The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial.
Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future".
"His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said.
"It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy."
The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13.
He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons.
The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction.
The judge took into account Walmsley's depressive disorder, epilepsy, and cannabis use disorder, with the court hearing she struggled with heavy drinking after the deaths of several family members.
He could not accept she had shown any remorse.
Walmsley-Hume will become eligible for release in April 2038, while his mother will become eligible the year prior.
Mr Hart's family smiled and held hands as the sentence was handed down.
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