Mathew Pirri to give evidence over role in revenge abduction of Micaela Jennings
A judge has rejected a kidnapper’s claim he was just innocently giving his mate a lift when he found himself in the middle of a sinister revenge plan.
West & Beaches
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A judge has rejected a kidnapper’s claim he was just doing an innocent favour for a friend and had no idea about the sinister crime that awaited.
Mathew Pirri, 40, became entangled in chef Joshua Barry’s revenge plan, alongside Reon Gardiner, 42, Scott Harrison, 36, Michael Geoffrey Stewart, 37, and Aaron Davies, 32.
During the men’s trial, the court heard the victim, Micaela Jennings, 29, spent an evening with Barry in November 2019, prior to the offending.
“She waited until Mr Barry fell asleep before taking his keys and stealing his car,” prosecutor Rob Walker said.
Barry orchestrated his revenge, with the court hearing a series of text messages of the group’s plans to abduct Ms Jennings.
The court heard Ms Jennings took the train with Davies on December 7, 2019, unknowingly shadowed by Harrison.
When they got off the train at Exeter, a car driven by Pirri pulled up next to her.
The court heard Harrison sprayed Ms Jennings with pepper spray and repeatedly hit her, before shoving her in the car.
Mr Walker said they delivered Ms Jennings to Barry who placed her in the boot of his car bound up in duct tape and brought her to Stewart’s house.
“Mr Stewart punched Ms Jennings so hard that he fractured her skull,” he said.
Mr Walker said Barry then messaged Gardiner saying “I have the Queen, need to clean her up”, before driving to his Victor Harbor house and forcing her to stay the night.
The next day Barry drove her to her boyfriend’s storage shed at Port Adelaide, threatened her with a shotgun and told her to steal his belongings.
Mr Walker said Barry then “ultimately lost his nerve” and dropped her off at her mother’s house.
The jury unanimously found Davies, of no fixed address, and Barry, of Newport, guilty of false imprisonment and causing harm and Gardiner, of Hindmarsh Island, guilty of false imprisonment.
Their co-accused, Harrison, of Taperoo, and Pirri, of Two Wells, previously pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and causing harm with intent while Stewart, of Littlehampton, pleaded guilty to causing harm reckless as to whether harm was caused.
Mr Walker previously told the court there was evidence that Stewart has associations with outlaw motorcycle gangs, which were part of the threats he issued when he assaulted Ms Jennings.
The District Court on Tuesday heard Stewart had since cut ties with any anti-social groups.
Edward Jolly, for Pirri, told the court he wasn’t aware of Ms Jennings’ abduction until he came to pick up Harrison from the train station.
Judge Liesl Kudelka said she didn’t accept that submission.
“You don’t plan something so well … without knowing for sure your driver is on board,” she said.
Mr Jolly replied that Pirri was just doing a favour for his good friend but was a willing participant once he realised criminal activity was occurring.
Judge Kudelka asked if there was an oppressive relationship between the two.
“It is unbelievable that the person who is driving the car did not have knowledge of any of what was going to happen until the moment she’s kidnapped,” she said.
“Does he just jump when Mr Harrison says jump?”
Judge Kudelka adjourned the charges until next week for Pirri to give evidence.
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