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Bossley Park stabbing murder: Wade Martinez and Jake Tortell jailed over George Garmo’s death

TWO close friends have been jailed for at least 16 years for the Valentine’s Day stabbing murder of a man who was chased through backyards in western Sydney.

George Garmo who was fatally stabbed at Bossley Park in 2015.
George Garmo who was fatally stabbed at Bossley Park in 2015.

TWO mates have been jailed for at least 16 years for the Valentine’s Day stabbing murder of a man who was chased through backyards in western Sydney.

Wade Martinez, 24, and Jake Tortell, 21, were found guilty in April of the 2015 murder of George Garmo, 20, who was found dead in the driveway of a home in Bossley Park.

In the NSW Supreme Court today, Acting Justice Jane Mathews found there had been animosity between Martinez and the victim, but that Tortell was the stabber.

Jake Tortell has been given a maximum jail sentence of 22 years for George Garmo’s murder. Picture: John Grainger
Jake Tortell has been given a maximum jail sentence of 22 years for George Garmo’s murder. Picture: John Grainger
Wade Martinez has been sentenced to at least 16 years in jail over George Garmo’s murder. Picture: John Grainger
Wade Martinez has been sentenced to at least 16 years in jail over George Garmo’s murder. Picture: John Grainger

On the evening of his death, Mr Garmo and his partner had just happened to walk past the house of people the two friends had been visiting.

Martinez, who also was found guilty of reckless wounding in company, came out to the street and used a knife to cut some fingers of Mr Garmo who then ran off, bleeding extensively.

The judge said the evidence revealed a history of antagonism between the pair, which was attributed to the actions of Mr Garmo not Martinez.

The scene of George Garmo’s stabbing murder in Bossley Park. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
The scene of George Garmo’s stabbing murder in Bossley Park. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
George Garmo was aged 20 when he was stabbed to death.
George Garmo was aged 20 when he was stabbed to death.

“There had been drive-by shootings aimed at Mr Martinez’s family home,” the judge said.

“On all accounts, at least two were committed by Mr Garmo.”

After he was cut on the hand, Mr Garmo was picked up nearby by friends, but soon after the car was blocked by one containing the two friends. Mr Garmo got out and ran, leaving a trail of blood in backyards, before his body was later found on a footpath with fatal stab wounds.

Both men received a maximum term of 22 years.

— AAP

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bossley-park-stabbing-murder-wade-martinez-and-jake-tortell-jailed-over-george-garmos-death/news-story/1ebccd0e1b02d74786972e5b75ba10f7