Summer Ruru and Karl Hassan sentenced for assault and theft of Ruru’s partner to escape alleged DV relationship

A woman convinced her ex to break in wearing a hockey mask, bash her partner with a bat and then fake abduct her so she could escape the alleged violent relationship.

A woman recruited her ex to bash her new partner in a violent robbery so she could leave an alleged domestic violent relationship.

Summer Apimaira Ruru, 26, and Karl John Hassan, 33, were sentenced in the Adelaide District Court on Thursday after they were caught “red handed” in their plan.

The court heard Ruru had been in a relationship with the victim for about a month.

“You say that relationship was an unhealthy one and marked by domestic violence,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said during sentencing.

“And things got to a point where you desperately needed to find a way out.”

The court heard Ruru and Hassan had previously been in a relationship together and have a child together.

Hassan contacted Ruru who instigated a plan with him.

“When you and the victim went to bed that night you made sure that the front door of his house was unlocked,” Judge Hefferan said.

“You sent texts to Mr Hassan urging him to come quickly.”

The court heard Hassan and three associates arrived at midnight on October 28, 2018 at Morphett Vale.

“You burst in through the front door and into the victim’s bedroom … you, Hassan were wearing a hockey mask,” Judge Heffernan said.

The court heard Hassan and his associates, also wearing disguises, were armed with baseball bats and sticks.

“The victim was struck with bats by at least two of you to his neck, head and arm,” Judge Heffernan said.

“During the assault one of the assailants held what the victim believed to be a taser to his face and someone threatened to stab him.”

The group stole the victim’s phones, money and bank cards.

“He believed that you, Ms Ruru had been abducted which is what you wanted him to believe to avert suspicion from yourself,” Judge Heffernan said.

Summer Ruru. Picture: Facebook

Karl Hassan. Picture: Facebook

Police attended Hassan’s house and caught them “red handed”.

The victim required stitches and suffered swelling, a cut lip and bruising.

Hassan, of Taperoo, was found guilty in trial of assault and theft while Ruru, of Findon, had previously pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass, theft and assault.

The court heard Ruru, who has two children, has a history of abusing drugs.

“I am told that you are determined to put methamphetamine behind you,” Judge Heffernan said.

Judge Heffernan said Ruru, who has been in custody since June, could have called police if she felt like her life was in danger.

“I accept that you genuinely felt the need to leave the victim’s premise and your relationship with him as soon as possible,” Judge Heffernan said.

“That does not excuse your offending which was calculated … it also involved a breach of trust in your relationship with the victim,” Judge Heffernan said.

The court heard both Hassan and Ruru, whose relationship was “fuelled by drugs”, were remorseful for the offending.

“Whilst you did different things you share an equal responsibility for what occurred,” Judge Heffernan said.

Judge Heffernan sentenced Ruru to two years and nine months jail, with a non-parole of one year and seven months.

He ordered the sentence be served on home detention.

Judge Heffernan sentenced Hassan to three years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and two months.

“People are entitled to feel safe in their own beds … it is only a matter of good fortune that he was not more seriously injured,” he said.