Carjacker Liam Steven White posed as ‘concerned citizen’ on TV after violent attack at Para Hills
HE fronted media crews as a concerned neighbour, speaking about a violent carjacking. But Liam Steven White knew first-hand what really happened during the attack in Para Hills.
HE fronted media crews as a concerned neighbour, speaking about a violent carjacking nearby and how it was most likely fuelled by drugs.
But Liam Steven White, 20, knew first-hand what happened during the attack in Para Hills on September 19, 2017 — he was the one responsible for violently bashing a stranger and then stealing his car.
While high on ice, White lured victim Lachlan Barratt to his home, used a bandana as a disguise and attacked him with a club or bat after he knocked on the door.
On Monday, prosecutor Angela Moffa told District Court Judge Paul Slattery that White had never met Mr Barratt but falsely believed there was something going on between him and his girlfriend.
She said he pretended to be his girlfriend and invited Mr Barratt over via text message.
“When the front door opened, he was assaulted by Mr White, namely by a blow to the head,” she said.
“He described it as a club or a bat.”
Mr Barratt suffered a broken jaw and bleeding on the brain before White picked up his car keys and stole his car.
The victim — an electrician, footballer and Tour Down Under fan — spent two days in the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and continues to suffer from his brain injury.
Ms Moffa read Mr Barratt’s victim impact statement to the court, where he described the life-changing impact of the assault.
“The night of September 19, 2017, changed my life forever,” he said.
“This assault was obviously well thought out as you made sure to cover your face to protect your identity.
“I lay awake at night going over things in my head. Why was I targeted? What if I had died that night because of my injuries?
“The flashbacks are still vivid.
“To add insult to the injury, you were interviewed by the news reporters and you made me out to be a drug addict in claiming that I must have owed money to someone, while you knew full well that wasn’t that case.
“I can only figure this was for your 15 minutes of fame to try and make it seem like you had nothing to do with it.”
Derek Kordick, for White, said his client accepted the facts and had admitted to the offences.
He said White had a longstanding problem with methamphetamine consumption and it had impacted on many aspects of his life.
“He perceived something was going on between the victim and his partner,” he said.
White will be sentenced in September.