Alexandra Hills fatal crash: Teen may face third charge, anger over bail laws

A senior police boss responded to angst over Tuesday’s double tragedy, admitting many young offenders don’t take the law seriously and have unrealistic values regarding human life.

Many young people don’t take the law seriously, are raised on a “diet of movies and computer games” and don’t appreciate the sanctity of human life, says one top cop of the state’s youth crime problems.

And the Police Minister says it’s up to all parents to make sure their kids are being raised right.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd and Police Minister Mark Ryan made the comments following the tragic deaths of Kate Leadbetter and Matty Field and their unborn baby, who were hit by a stolen car and killed on Australia Day.

A 17-year-old male has been charged with their murders.

Mr Codd said he did not believe “many” young people took the law seriously.

“We’ve got some young people who are reared on a diet of movies and computer games that seem to belittle the value of human life,” she said.

“We see them playing games, watching movies, et cetera, where cars can crash and roll several times and someone gets out and walks out and somehow they think that’s normal and real. It’s not real.

“And I think we all have a collective responsibility to challenge these assumptions right through their lives.”

People pay tribute at the scene in Alexandra Hills where Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed while walking their dog. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Also responding to community sadness and outrage over the double tragedy was Minister Ryan who said the community was “in this together”.

“It’s as much about community setting standards as it is about families setting standards,” he said.

He said everyone needed to provide “good guidance” to young people.

“This isn’t about government getting into people’s households but you love your kids, have a look at what they’re doing.”

“Keep an eye on your kids.

“If they’re engaging in conduct that you think might be contrary to them being good citizens, have the conversation with them.”

Mr Ryan also responded to calls for stronger youth justice laws.

“If laws need to change to make intentions clearer, to ensure community safety is the priority, then of course we will look at that,” he said.

“If it stacks up, if the evidence is there to support those good ideas, then of course we will do everything we can to implement those good ideas.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan and Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd speak to the media at Police headquarters in Roma street on Thursday, January 28, 2021. Picture: John Gass

But Mr Ryan would not commit to any form of review, only saying people could submit “good ideas” to the government.

“We’ve been looking at this issue since we came to government,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said it was a “really difficult time for the whole community”.

Mr Codd said autopsies on the couple were happening today, Thursday.

Police were also awaiting substance test results for alcohol and drugs for the alleged driver.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd and Police Minister Mark Ryan speak to the media at Police headquarters in Roma street. Thursday January 28, 2021. Picture, John Gass

“There is a great deal of angst from the community and they are looking for answers,” he said.

“But I think the very important part of this is we look at the facts so when we come together as a community and the judicial system that we are basing it on facts.

“Those facts will come out in due course, I’m just not in a position to touch on any of those while they are before the courts.”

Mr Codd said over 85 per cent of time police had an interaction with children over a criminal matter it resulted in “never having a negative content again”.

“One of the frustrations for us is we now know that there is data that anywhere up to 40 per cent of criminal activity that’s undertaken up by juvenile offenders is by about 10 per cent of the offenders,” he said.

“Yes it’s frustrating at times to see people continuing to offend, regardless of their age.”

Victims Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter

The tragedy has well and truly reignited the debate around juvenile offender laws, with frustrated police saying the “catch and release” method of dealing with teens was not working.

Last night, Kate’s aunt and uncle, Danielle and Jason Leadbetter, visited the scene of the crash where they told The Courier-Mail of their devastation.

“(Kate) was just everything that is beautiful in this world,” Danielle said.

“So Queenslanders posting on social media, I’m reading it, you’re angry, let’s change the laws, take this anger and change it into something positive so it’s not your child that you are burying one day. I hope Annastacia Palaszczuk and our lawmakers are watching this and they change our laws … enough is enough.”

She described Kate, an interior designer who only recently returned to work after time off due to the COVID pandemic, as a “joyful” person.

“I remember Kate as my flower girl at my wedding. She was just so joyful,” she said.

“It’s hard to believe that someone doing such a selfish act could take someone’s life,” she said.

Ms Leadbetter said she would contact Peter Dutton and ask him to change the laws nationwide.

“No more loss of lives, no more young families being killed because young offenders want to have their moment of fame,” she said.

A child looks at the growing floral tributes at the scene of the tragedy. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Queensland’s Police Union also called on Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman to review and change the “weak link” in the Juvenile Justice Act in the wake of the deaths.

QPU secretary Mick Barnes said the public’s sentiment had now changed from “one of sadness to one of anger”.

“Police are doing such great work in providing alternatives to law enforcement but where necessary they are putting juvenile offenders before the courts,” Mr Barnes said.

“The weak link is the other side of the justice system in how recidivist offenders keep hitting the streets and not being held accountable for their actions.

“This is a long overdue opportunity for the Attorney-General (Shannon Fentiman) to make the appropriate necessary amendments to the Juvenile Justices Act for the sake of the whole community.

“Where there is a likelihood of offenders, adult or juvenile, committing further offences they should be held in custody.”

Queensland Police Union of Employees general secretary Mick Barnes.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli also demanded the government overhaul its bail laws to make breach of bail a specific offence.

“I made a commitment yesterday when I went to the crash site and met Kate’s aunty and uncle, I made a commitment to them to leave no stone unturned to get to the bottom of this,” he told a press conference on the Sunshine Coast.

He said he wasn’t interested in “making political hay” out of the tragedy, but the family and community deserved answers.

“From this tragedy comes a terrible platform to push for change,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“This has to be a conversation we have to have about our Youth Justice Act we have in this state.”

He said breach of bail should be a specific offence.

“Because how can you expect a young person to comply with a bail condition when it’s not even an offence to break it?” he said.

Mr Crisafulli said everyone who had experienced “the revolving door” of the youth justice system deserved change – from the person who woke up to find their drawers had been rifled through, to the young apprentice who woke up to find their tools had been stolen.

Qld Opposition leader David Crisafulli. Photography: Russell Shakespeare

The Courier-Mail understands the teenager was on bail for other driving offences when he allegedly stole a car and crashed into two other vehicles in separate incidents before hitting the couple.

“I am limited from a legal basis to the amount of detail I can provide in relation to the alleged offender and his circumstances,” Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said yesterday.

“His history and any interactions he may have had – as is the case with anybody – with the justice system will be reviewed with partner agencies as a matter of course.

“Here’s two people going about their business innocently on Australia Day walking their dogs.

“To have them ripped away from their families is an absolute tragedy and I can assure you it’s impacted very, very heavily on the first responders and the witnesses who faced that.

“It shouldn’t happen.”

Detectives are now trying to trace the movements of the 17-year-old from Waterford West, who they allege stole a Toyota LandCruiser from a Cleveland home between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday.

The teen (centre) charged with the murders of Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field

At 5.10pm, he was filmed gesturing angrily to another driver at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane roads in Alexandra Hills.

The exchange was filmed by another motorist, who could be heard screaming as the 4WD took off from the lights and then allegedly deliberately crashed into the other car.

The woman who filmed the crash could be heard calling police for help.

Mr Codd said police had been unable to find the teen or the stolen car in the 15 minutes between the call and the deaths of Kate and Matthew.

He said it was that same intersection where the LandCruiser allegedly returned and ran a red light “at speed” and collided with a truck.

“The LandCruiser has rolled and struck two pedestrians who were crossing the road at the time,” he said.

“Despite the incredible efforts of witnesses and later (paramedics) both pedestrians died at the scene.”

Mr Codd said police would allege the teen ran from the crash site into a nearby street where he stole a set of keys from a house and attempted to steal a car.

Kate Leadbetter’s aunt and uncle Danielle and Jason Leadbetter. Picture: Cormac Pearson

He said the teen was then chased from the house by the owner, who stopped him until police arrived.

The teen has been charged with two counts of murder, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, two counts of burglary, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Another Leadbetter family member told The Courier-Mail they were now focused on dealing with their grief.

“We just want to stick together as a family at the moment and deal with it,” the family member said.

“We want to thank the community for everything they’ve done.”

The charges were briefly heard in the Brisbane Children’s Court yesterday.

Mr Codd said police were awaiting “confirmation of the pregnancy” but consider further charges.

“There is provision under the criminal code for offences relating to the killing of unborn children and it is certainly something we will be considering as part of the ongoing investigation,” he said.

He called for anyone with information on the tragedy to call police.

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000

.