Vigilante group ringleader may avoid time in jail
‘She recruited teenagers and went to that house with the express purpose of violence’
Police & Courts
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THE ringleader of a vigilante group hellbent on revenge against an Andergrove retiree may avoid spending time in jail for her role in a deadly home invasion that claimed the life of her nephew.
The mother of four recruited teenagers in her retaliation plot against her brother-in-law after he allegedly pushed her during an argument.
Now the 68-year-old man has been left with crippling guilt over the fatal consequences as he tried to protect himself.
On New Year's Eve 2018 Samantha-Renee Elizabeth Mackinlay, 31, was drinking with Corey Verburg, 20, Kymberley Robke, 19, Jessi Kennedy, 18, and Kobi Dunn, 18, and told them the victim was a "woman basher".
A plan was formed to drive to his house - during the trip over Mackinlay and her nephew, Mr Verburg, made and sent threatening calls and messages.
The victim Stephen Johnson, expecting trouble, armed himself with a knife.
When the group arrived at the Gemini Dr home, Robke stayed in the car - she was not involved in hatching the plot.
The other four went round to the back door where Mr Johnson, on hearing the group being aggressive and threatening, locked and pushed his weight against the back door.
Mackay District Court heard Mr Verburg rammed the door, breaking it open and causing Mr Johnson to fall over.
As the young father approached, Mr Johnson "thrust his knife up, which penetrated Mr Verburg's torso".
Kennedy had already run back to the car. The others followed and on the way Mackinlay smashed a window.
Mr Verburg bled to death on the side of the road on Glenpark St.
"It had a terrible impact on (Mr Johnson)," Crown prosecutor Lara Soldi said.
"It's clear from his victim impact statement that he feels terribly guilty at how Mr Verburg's life ended that night and how it will stay with him for the rest of his life."
Ms Soldi labelled it a "concerning example of a sense of vigilantism" and said Mackinlay's conduct was "the most serious by far".
"She recruited teenagers and went to that house with the express purpose of violence," Ms Soldi said
"And the fact that somebody died just illustrates how dangerous that conduct can be.
"People need to know they can't be violent vigilantes within the community."
Mackinlay, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and wilful damage.
However, the court heard one of her children could be her saving grace from serving actual time in custody after the child's significant mental health issues were revealed.
Judge Paul Smith asked for medical material saying it would be a "crucial" determiner of whether Mackinlay went to jail.
The case was adjourned to next Friday.
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