Kimberley Jane Burns jailed for robbery while in company with a weapon

A Queensland mother lured a man to her home on the premise of a ‘casual meet up’ before taking part in a knifepoint robbery where the victim was in “such a state of fear” he begged not to be killed.

Kimberley Jane Burns appeared in the Bundaberg Distric Court.

A Bundaberg mother of five lured a man to her home before taking part in a terrifying robbery where the victim was in “such a state of fear” he begged not to be killed.

Kimberley Jane Burns, 38 already had a seven-page criminal history when she pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a string of charges including armed robbery in company with personal violence.

Crown prosecutor Ryan Minuti told the Bundaberg District Court Burns had a “propensity for violence” which included previous convictions for assault occasioning bodily harm, assaulting police and other offences.

Mr Minuti told the court Burns she and a co-offender had “lured” their victim to her home on the premise of a “casual meet up” in on January 28, 2023

“However, when the [man] arrived he was ambushed by the co-offender,” Mr Minuti said

“It soon became clear Burns had lured the [man] there for the purposes of the ambush.”

The court heard Burns then grabbed a “large, black handled knife” and, walking towards the victim, said “you won’t f**k with me again.”

Mr Minuti told the court Burns flicked the knife towards the man which caused a small cut on his face.

Burns’ co-accused grabbed the knife and made a stabbing motion towards the man before Burns reached out and said “don’t stab him here, my daughter is right here on the couch”.

“The [man] began pleading for his life and begging for them to stop,” Mr Minutia told the court.

As the victim was trying to call his wife in the hopes of getting some money transferred to his account, Burns’ co-accused grabbed the phone “as payment.”

The victim was able to leave and called police who returned to Burns’ home and placed her under arrest the same day.

Barrister Rohan Hardcastle appeared for Burns and said she had attempted to de-escalate the situation by stopping her co-accused from stabbing their victim.

Mr Minutia opposed this and said “she continued to participate in the event causing the [victim] to get to such a state of fear that he begged for his life.”

The court also heard Burns had been driving unlicensed on the Bruce Highway in August of 2022 when police attempted to intercept her.

Instead of pulling over, Burns drove into oncoming traffic to evade police.

She pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance, one count of contravening direction or requirements from police; an evasion offence, and three counts of driving without a licence disqualified by a court order.

Judge Tony Moynihan sentenced Burns to two years in jail for the robbery charge, with a parole date of November 29, 2023.

Her 212 days of presentence custody declared as time served and her licence was disqualified for three years.