Harley David Wegener sentenced to life imprisonment unprovoked murder of Ben Suttie

A judge has lashed out at Harley David Wegener as she sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murder of Ben Suttie saying she hoped his sentence would serve as a warning to others that “knives and violence do nothing but destroy lives”.

A judge has lashed a ‘despicable’ criminal who squandered every chance to reform and ultimately went on to stab a man to death, saying she hoped his life sentence would serve as a warning to others that “knives and violence do nothing but destroy lives”.

In a powerful hearing in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Melanie Hindman sentenced Harley David Wegener to life in prison for the murder of Woodridge man Ben Suttie, 37, whom he stabbed in the neck in an unprovoked attack in August 2018.

“I can only hope that your sentence sends a strong message to younger persons, particularly young men, of the consequences that can flow from carrying weapons, particularly knives,” Justice Hindman told him.

“Knife violence is far too prevalent and it ruins too many lives.”

After a two-week trial in which Wegener, now 34, attempted to minimise his horrific actions and denigrate his victim, it took a jury just hours to find him guilty of murder, completely rejecting his version of events.

Ben Suttie, 37, was killed by Harley David Wegener in a knife attack in Woodridge in Logan, outside of Brisbane, in 2018.

During sentencing on Thursday, it was revealed Wegener, also from Woodridge in Logan, south of Brisbane, had an appalling history of knife crime and had been given every opportunity to reform before he went on to commit murder.

“In respect of your previous offences you’ve been specifically warned and counselled by judges of the courts against your carrying and use of knives, you have previously inflicted knife injuries on others, you’ve threatened others with knives, you’ve been found in possession of knives in public,” Justice Hindman said.

“You were given so many opportunities to change your behaviour and did not take advantage of those opportunities that were given to you.”

During his trial, Wegener had claimed carrying a knife around made him “feel safe”.

“Even if that’s true, carrying a knife and using it unlawfully, intentionally and in anger here has the consequence that a man is unnecessarily dead and you will spend a significant proportion of your adult life in jail,” Justice Hindman said.

The family of murder victim Ben Suttie leave the Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday after his killer Harley Wegener was sentenced to life in prison. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“I hope that during your long incarceration you might find your way to understanding yourself and then teaching others that knives and violence do nothing but destroy lives.

“Seek to improve yourself while you are in prison, to salvage your life and try to make amends for your crime.”

During the trial, the jury heard about 11pm on August 18, 2018, two groups – one including Wegener and another including Mr Suttie – were walking through Prince Park at Woodridge when they crossed paths.

Mr Suttie commented “Hey, how’s it going” in a friendly tone and a man believed to be Wegener aggressively responded “You getting cheeky c***”.

Mr Suttie tried to de-escalate the exchange and told him “No nothing like that mate, just trying to say hello”.

But the interaction turned violent and Wegener reached into his bag and pulled out a “scalpel-sharp” knife and slashed Mr Suttie twice, first to the face and then to the neck, severing his carotid artery.

Crown Prosecutor Greg Cummings said Mr Suttie’s death was a tragedy and that it was “difficult to perceive a more inhumane episode of behaviour”.

Harley David Wegener was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday for the 2018 murder of Benjamin Suttie. Picture: Supplied

“There was absolutely no reason for Ben Suttie to die that night, he was being friendly, and this accused produced a knife which he carried with him, an extremely sharp knife, scalpel-like sharp and when Ben Suttie was retreating with his hands down, nothing in his hands posing no threat whatsoever, this man advanced on him … and slashed his throat…,” he said.

“And the tragic consequences your honour has heard are enduring and profound and are unlikely to be fixed or soothed by anything this court or anyone else can do.”

Justice Hindman said Wegener’s violence was “despicable”.

“The injury inflicted on Mr Suttie was so severe that he was effectively doomed from the moment the cut to his neck occurred,” she said.

“The final moments of Mr Suttie’s consciousness must have been terrifying for him. The bloody horrific scene that confronted Mr Suttie’s group including his son I’m sure will endure in their memories, so too in the memories of the first responders who were quickly on the scene valiantly attempting to save his life.

“Your actions have deprived his children of a beloved father, life partner of her soulmate, siblings of their larrikin brother, parents of a beloved son and Mr Suttie’s friends of his cheeky company.”

Wegener was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder.