Brodie Joseph Brennan pleads guilty to aiding a fugitive’s escape from custody in Stanthorpe Magistrates Court

A man who helped his cousin escape policy custody at the Warwick courthouse has claimed he was ‘frightened’ and ‘scared’ of what the other man would do if he refused to help him flee.

A Southern Downs man has pleaded guilty to helping his fugitive cousin escape from custody, but claims he only assisted the man out of fear after finding him in the boot of his car.

Brodie Joseph Brennan was involved in his cousin Clayton Michael-John Alvoen’s escape from the Warwick courthouse on April 28, when he allegedly headbutted a police officer and fled.

Brodie Joseph Brennan. Picture: Facebook / Social media

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told Stanthorpe Magistrates Court that Brennan first unknowingly helped his cousin, as Mr Alvoen allegedly hid himself in the boot of Brennan’s unlocked car.

“This defendant was in the foyer of the courthouse talking to Alvoen’s lawyer when it's believed Alvoen ran straight to the defendant’s vehicle,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

Brennan was then travelling with his and Mr Alvoen’s partners along Old Stanthorpe Road when they heard thumping noises coming from the car boot and pulled over.

Sergeant de Lissa said after finding the alleged stowaway, Brennan hesitantly agreed to continue driving Mr Alvoen away from town as he was “frightened” and “scared” of the fugitive.

“There was an argument between them, and from what the defendant’s told police it was just a spur of the moment thing to comply with what Mr Alvoen was doing,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

“He didn’t have time to think clearly.

“Ultimately it wasn’t a planned thing and that once (Brennan) had knowledge of it, he did nothing to stop it.”

He added it was CCTV footage that helped police identify Brennan’s car.

The court heard Brennan was only a passenger in the car as he was unlicensed, and he kicked Mr Alvoen out the car boot once they arrived in Dalveen.

Magistrate Julian Noud said Brennan’s actions were “pretty significant” as police were scrambling and using plenty of resources in their search for the fugitive.

“When they stopped at Old Stanthorpe Road they weren’t talking about the weather or football results, they were talking about where they were going to go,” Mr Noud said.

“Some plan was reached about going to Dalveen, that was of benefit to Mr Alvoen, and that is to say this defendant was part of that plan.”

Brennan pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding persons to escape from lawful custody.

Defence lawyer Dorothy Switala argued her client should receive the same, if not a lesser, penalty than Mr Alvoen’s ex-partner who was sentenced on similar charges earlier this month.

She was fined $1000 and no conviction was recorded.

Mr Noud adjourned the matter to seek full sentencing remarks from Brennan’s co-accused’s case from Warwick Magistrates Court.

Brennan will remain on bail until his matter is next mentioned on October 26.

Mr Alvoen is still yet to be located by police officers more than five months after his escape launched a region-wide manhunt.