Latest news with #Walmsley-Hume
The Advertiser
06-06-2025
- 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.
ABC News
24-04-2025
- ABC News
Grandmother of teen murdered in hit-and-run confronts mother and son in court
The grandmother of an Indigenous teenager murdered during a hit-and-run on the New South Wales south coast has reprimanded the mother-and-son duo responsible in court, saying they will be seen forever as "coward murderers". Jayden Walmsley-Hume, 20, and his mother Katie Walmsley, 40, were found guilty in July last year of deliberately striking 18-year-old Taj Hart with a ute during a "revenge attack" at Nowra in 2022. Mr Hart's family has given permission for his name and image to be used. Mr Hart's grandmother, Glenda Hart, scolded the pair from the witness stand during the Supreme Court sentencing at Wollongong on Thursday. "I hope you are always looking behind you because Taj will be haunting you forever," Glenda Hart yelled as she walked off the stand. " You are forever murderers — forever coward murderers — and that's what people will see you as forever. " Ms Hart struggled to read her victim impact statement through tears as she told the court her grandson's life had been "brutally" cut short "just as he was starting to get somewhere in life". "I want you to understand the seriousness of your actions," she said. " You killed a real person, he was a son, a brother, a nephew … not a black kangaroo. " Nowra teen Taj Hart is remembered for his love of football. ( ABC Illawarra supplied: Glenda Hart ) Ms Hart described her grandson as the "glue" to the family. She said his absence had left a void that could never be filled. "I can't get the image of what you did to Taj out of my brain," she said. "I'm thankful Taj never knew what was about to happen. " The grief, anger and confusion has devastated our family and feels as if a piece of our soul has been stolen. " The trial During the four-week-long murder trial in July last year, the court heard Walmsley-Hume phoned his father after the incident to tell him he had hit a kangaroo and needed help with claiming insurance. It was the Crown's case the pair had lied and evaded police immediately after the incident, including leaving the south coast within a few days, where they ventured north and stayed in hotels and caravan parks using fake names. The pair were arrested and charged with Mr Hart's murder two months after his death. The Supreme Court jury rejected Walmsley-Hume's statement that he didn't intend to kill or cause serious harm to Mr Hart and that he believed he hit a pole when he was attempting to intimidate Mr Hart with his ute. Walmsley-Hume said he only became "worried" later when he saw the boy had died during a hit-and-run incident on Facebook and he realised it was his fault. "I started getting really worried, I started reading more comments and my heart hit the ground," he told the court. The jury also rejected Wamsley's statement that she was going to get fast food with her son and played no role in the act. The court heard of altercations in the lead-up to Mr Hart's death between Walmsley-Hume, Mr Hart and a friend. It was the Crown's case that "strong animosity or perhaps hatred" between the young men led to Mr Hart's eventual murder. Crown prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe said an incident seven weeks earlier in January, where Walmsley-Hume's elbow was broken in a fight involving Mr Hart, was the "boiling point". Ms Ratcliffe said Walmsley shared her son's animosity towards Mr Hart and grew increasingly protective of her son to the point of agreeing to murder Mr Hart and help to cover it up. Katie Walmsley was found guilty of murder. ( Supplied: Facebook ) Accepting responsibility Supreme Court Justice Robertson Wright questioned Mr Walmsley-Hume's acceptance of responsibility after he submitted in a letter to the court that the incident was an accident. Justice Wright said the evidence would therefore "fall short of an acceptance of intention". "I would have to concede that it is not full acceptance because he doesn't accept an intention to kill," Justice Wright said. Barrister Sharyn Hall SC told the court her client had acknowledged his responsibility "in a limited way" that he was driving the car and was responsible for what occurred. "He's not saying it was somebody else's fault," she said. The moral culpability of Ms Walmsley was also questioned but defended by her lawyer Edward Anderson who said she was merely a "passenger in a car in a set of circumstances that is evolving very quickly". "There is, in my submission, a lower degree of moral culpability than someone foreseeing something to happen than agreeing for them to do it," he said. Mr Walmsley-Hume's illegal drug problem from within custody was discussed, with his attempt to engage in an opioid treatment program raised as a reason to believe "positive prospects for rehabilitation" and "somewhat positive because of his preparedness to seek help". Justice Wright adjourned the sentencing to a date yet to be decided. ABC Illawarra — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Thursday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
