Five people pleaded guilty to Bordertown home invasion and assault

A group who made the “ill-advised” decision to forcefully remove a couple from a rental property have been sentenced.

Aiden Gregory Mullan outside court in Adelaide. Image/Russell Millard Photography

A landlord and her sons have avoided jail for viciously attacking a couple in their home after deciding to confront them over suspicions of inappropriate renting behaviour.

Lee Laraine Burchell, 48, of Murray Bridge, and her sons Aiden Gregory Mullan, 30, of Bordertown, and Jye William Mullan, 25, of Elwomple, took matters into their own hands to try to remove Jessica Applebee and Jock Bleasby from their home.

Darcy Jay Cameron, 29, of Narrogin, and Hakopa Hamahona Tewhata, 28, of Bordertown, were also involved in the home invasion on October 27, 2019.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Burchell was renting out a Salom St, Bordertown property to the couple, who she knew through her sons.

The court heard there had been issues arising from their tenancy, including damage to the walls and cannabis allegedly being grown at the property.

Darcy Jay Cameron. Image: Russell Millard Photography

Hakopa Tewhata. Image: Russell Millard Photography

On the day of the offending there were numerous messages exchanged between Aiden, who had previously been best friends with Mr Bleasby, and the couple.

“In those messages, Mr Bleasby and Ms Applebee made a number of unsubstantiated accusations that Jye had taken their property and had harmed Ms Applebee’s cat,” Judge Schammer said.

“The messages from Mr Bleasby were aggressive; he talked about the fact he was raging for a fight and threatened to burn the house down.”

The court heard the four men spent the day playing golf and drinking together before making the “ill-advised” decision to remove the couple from the property.

As Ms Applebee opened the door to a visitor at 10.30pm, Jye ran up and punched the visitor in the mouth.

The court heard Jye then ran inside the house, with the others following.

Jye and Aiden began punching Mr Bleasby, who was in bed, while Ms Applebee tried to pull them away.

Burchell then entered the room and pulled Ms Applebee by the hair to restrain her.

Hakopa and Darcy then entered the room and joined in on the assault.

“Ms Applebee was on the floor when you, Jye, punched her once to the face with an uppercut-type punch,” Judge Schammer said.

Mr Bleasby ran to a neighbour’s property and called the police.

He was taken to the Bordertown Hospital where he was treated for injuries to his face and back, while Ms Applebee sustained a blood nose.

“Both Mr Bleasby and Ms Applebee have described the fear and vulnerability they felt during the offending and thereafter with them being worried that they may be attacked again and scared that you may attack their animals,” Judge Schammer said.

The group pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and a variety of assault charges.

Burchell was sentenced to one year and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months.

Jye was sentenced to three years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of 19 months.

Aiden and Tewhata were sentenced to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 17 months.

Cameron was sentenced to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 20 months.

Judge Schammer said it was a “lineball” decision for some of the men, but suspended each of the group’s sentences on a two-year, $500 good behaviour bond.