Father of Kate Leadbetter and Matt Fields’ alleged killer jailed

A southeast Qld man whose son allegedly mowed down Alexandra Hills couple Kate Leadbetter and Matt Fields has been sentenced for a variety of drug offending.

The father of a Logan teenager accused of mowing down two young expectant parents while high on drugs, killing them and their unborn child, has had an “epiphany” about his recidivist drug offending following his son’s “troubles”.

The southeast Queensland man, who cannot be legally named as his son was a child at the time of his alleged offending, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday to eight drug-related offences.

They included two counts of possessing a commercial quantity of a dangerous drug, one of possessing a variety of dangerous drugs, and charges of receiving tainted property, possessing a restricted drug and obstructing police among others.

The offences were detected following a search warrant on a residence south of Brisbane the defendant was staying at on November 10 last year.

Upon police’s arrival, a number of persons were witnessed in the front yard yelling, “Cops, cops!”

Inside, the defendant was seen escaping with a backpack down a set of internal stairs.

He attempted to vault the back fence, but fell and injured his wrist.

The defendant required “subduing” with a taser, the court heard.

The father of the Waterford West teen accused of killing Kate Leadbetter and Matt Field says he has had an "epiphany" following his son's "troubles". Picture: Facebook

He was discovered in possession of 19.5g pure meth in nearly 30g of substance, 303g of a substance containing GHB, small quantities of cannabis, MDMA, Alprazolam, Buprenorphine and Lyrica, digital scales, and stolen bank cards and IDs.

The defendant has been remanded in custody since November 10, a period of 390 days, or about 13 months.

He was on parole at the time of the commission of the current offences and is currently serving out his pre-existing sentence, which is due to expire on December 3, 2024.

The court heard the defendant is a “serious, recidivist” drug offender, who just a fortnight before committing the current offences evaded police dangerously in a stolen car, for which he has already been dealt with, receiving 30 months’ imprisonment in February this year.

Defence counsel Scott Lynch told the court his client, while behind bars, has had an “epiphany” about his offending ways, following his son’s arrest for the alleged murders of Alexandra Hills couple Kate Leadbetter and Matt Field on Australia Day this year.

The 18-year-old Waterford West man accused of murdering Alexandra Hills couple Kate Leadbetter and Matt Field. Picture: File

The teenager, who has since turned 18 while on remand, was also charged with burglary and one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, the boy has also been charged with a further three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance), two counts of failure to fulfil duties at the scene of a traffic crash and one count each of wilful damage, driving while disqualified and possessing tainted property.

Most recently, the Waterford West teen was committed to stand trial over the couple’s alleged murder.

Mr Lynch told the court his client’s epiphany led to an intense desire to want to “provide for him upon his release”.

Alexandra Hills couple Matt Field and Kate Leadbetter. Picture: File

Justice Peter Applegarth concurred, telling the court his son’s alleged offending was made “possible by you being in jail”.

Justice Applegarth blasted the defendant, who used a variety of dangerous drugs daily in the course of a polysubstance addiction, for continuing to offend on parole.

He sentenced the defendant to three years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility set at April 6 next year.