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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Mum and son to spend decades in jail for 'cold-blooded' murder of teen
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. 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.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
PCYC boxer Eric Kyanga returns home with Australian Club Championship title around his waist
Geraldton boxing star Eric Kyanga is now a title-holder after a stunning performance at the Australian Club Championships in South Australia last month. The PCYC boxer flew home from South Australia with a title belt around his waist after beating his opponent in the final after the very first round. The 20-year-old fought arguably the best fighter in WA in the semifinal, to whom he lost by decision. With the tournament looking as though it had wrapped up for Kyanga, luck prevailed, with his semifinal opponent pulling out of the final. The tournament organisers let Kyanga fight in the final, with the Geraldton resident jumping at the opportunity to have a crack at bringing home the Australian Club Championships title. Kyanga excelled in the final, dominating the first round of the bout, with the fight coming to an end after the first round as Kyanga's hand was raised. Kyanga's coach at PCYC, Jake Peacock, said he was immensely proud of the efforts put forward by his young fighter. 'Look, I am very proud of him to do what he did,' he said. 'To bounce back from a tough loss in the semi to then jump at the chance to fight in the final and do as well as he did was unreal. 'He showed a lot of character to stand up and do what he did.' Peacock said the ever-improving Kyanga continued to impress and shine in the ring at training, and at bouts across Australia. 'He (Kyanga) is a star. He is always looking on how to improve,' Peacock said. 'Like I say, that's just a big improvement, because Eric fought that guy probably four to six weeks earlier, and Eric won a split decision, which is close, but Eric just totally dominated this time and came away with the title.' Kyanga travelled to the Institute of Sport in Canberra last year and was able to train with some world-class athletes in boxing — among them Commonwealth Games silver medallist and Olympian Callum Peters. Peters and Kyanga hit it off, with Peters becoming a mentor to Kyanga. On that weekend in South Australia, Peters was in attendance as Kyanga's hand was raised. Peacock said Peters had been a massive influence on Kyanga's boxing career and it was a nice moment to see the two together with their titles. 'It was cool to see him there to see Eric after his fight,' Peacock said. 'Callum has been huge for Eric, and proved that in South Australia. 'It all went right for Eric and all played out nicely when he was given the chance to fight in the final. 'They say in boxing you need three things: hard work, talent, and a bit of luck along the way.' Kyanga now prepares to fight in Perth on Saturday, June 14 at Boxing WA's 5RD Pound 4 Pound Champions Show.
Sky News AU
25-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Call for early intervention programs to fight youth crime epidemic
Cairns Police Department Senior Sergeant Kelly Chamberlain says early intervention is the 'absolute key' in easing Australia's youth crime crisis. As the founder of PCYC's diversion-based program 'After Dark', Ms Chamberlain is providing a safe environment for 11 to 17-year-olds, hoping to steer them on the right path. 'If we can prevent young people from starting to make those poor choices early, then eventually we are going to get to the point where the increases in crime start to slow down,' she said. 'We all know it's never ever going to completely stop, but what we want is obviously this epidemic that's going through the whole of Australia, not just Cairns, to slow down significantly, and the only way is through early intervention – starting younger and younger.' In partnership with Harvey Norman
