Ben Gravett murder: Pair jailed over his death

Ben Gravett stood up to a debt-collecting outlaw bikie and his group of thugs, in defence of a young woman, but his bravery cost him his life.

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Ben Gravett stood up to a debt-collecting outlaw bikie and his group of thugs, in defence of a young woman, but his bravery cost him his life.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court imposed lengthy sentences on those responsible for his “cruel, vicious and totally unnecessary” death.

Justice Kevin Nicholson said there could be no mercy for Rebels bikie Mikel George Frederick Harold Higgins, who was found guilty by a jury of murdering Mr Gravett.

“That a person who is prepared to associate with the ethos of motorcycle gangs says much about their character,” he said.

“It shows that person to be of very bad character.”

In December 2016, Higgins, 35, led a group of men through the southern suburbs collecting drug debts.

Murder victim Ben Gravett, who was killed at Christie Downs in December 2016. Picture: Supplied by family

Among those men — who were armed with weapons stored in a ute — was Jesse Daniel James Hunt, 23, who jurors found guilty of manslaughter.

In sentencing on Thursday, Justice Nicholson said the block of Christie Downs units at which Mr Gravett died was the group’s second stop that night.

They were looking for a man but, on discovering he was not home, menaced his partner.

“The residents knew you were a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang, with its reputation for intimidation and extreme violence,” he said.

“Or, because of your aggressive behaviour — backed up by a group of thugs — they were all cowed into submission.

“All, that is, except for one man.”

Mr Gravett, he said, armed himself with a metal pole and went to the woman’s defence by striking Higgins across the back of the head.

The group, including Hunt, chased him out of the block and trapped him before Higgins stabbed him 11 times, including three strikes to the head and neck.

Police at the murder scene in Christie Downs, in December 2016. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Justice Nicholson said Higgins had not intended to kill anyone, but went to the block “prepared to employ extreme violence” and “punishment” if anyone resisted him.

He rejected Higgins’ claim that Mr Gravett’s actions mitigated his own crime.

“The vicious, cruel and unnecessary killing of Mr Gravett has brought upon his family and friends a world of pain,” he said.

“This is an unmitigated tragedy.”

He jailed Higgins for life with a non-parole period of 22 years, saying he had “poor” prospects of rehabilitation.

He jailed Hunt for 8 1/2 years, with a six year and 10 month non-parole period, urging him to change his ways.

“One can only hope your genuine contrition for your stupid and appalling behaviour will act as some sort of circuit-breaker,” he said.

“If not, you will proceed down a path of longer and more frequent prison sentences.”