Jim Dastan sentenced for the murder of Craig Anderson

A once-promising league player who rose through the ranks with some of the NRL’s brightest stars is facing a very different future after he was convicted of murdering a western Sydney man.

Jim Dastan has convicted of murdering Craig Anderson (centre) in Doonside in 2019. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

A once-promising rugby league player who played alongside some of the NRL’s brightest stars is staring down decades in jail after he was convicted of murdering a western Sydney man in cold blood.

Jim Dastan was once on a rugby league scholarship at rugby league nursery Patrician Brothers Blacktown – a player with promise rising through the ranks with the likes of NRL captains Boyd Cordner and Api Koroisau.

Now the former diesel mechanic is facing decades behind bars after he was convicted of the “terrible, cowardly” shooting murder of Doonside man Craig Anderson.

Dastan consistently denied pulling the trigger when Mr Anderson was shot four times as he ran for refuge inside his home on May 27, 2019.

He was found guilty of murder by a jury late last year and at the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Ian Harrison said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt Dastan fired the fatal shots.

Justice Harrison said Dastan had become “obsessed” after his younger brother was assaulted by other men at Anderson’s Doonside home in the days before his death.

Craig Anderson (left). Picture: Adam Yip / Manly Daily

“Mr Anderson was not personally involved but the offender formed the belief he was responsible, deserving of punishment for that had occurred,” Justice Harrison said.

“He was extremely upset at learning what had occurred and was hopeful of recruiting others to assist him with his plan for revenge.”

Justice Harrison said Dastan had sent a message saying “my brother got jumped, I need gat … I’m frothing”, and – when he arrived at Mr Anderson’s address – called out “what happened to my f--king brother yesterday” before the shots were fired.

The justice also dismissed Dastan’s “letter of apology” in respect of the incident, in which Dastan said “someone died from a mistake that randomly happened … the pistol was never mine and I never touched it”.

“I’m unable to accept the description of a letter of apology … or that anything in it amounts to a letter of apology – he continues to maintain he was not responsible for the death of Mr Anderson,” Justice Harrison said.

“The ‘really big mistake’ would appear to refer to events that did not involve him.”

Justice Harrison said the letter went on to “brutally” detail Dastan’s “extremely unfortunate childhood”.

Dastan’s brother Joshkun.

The court heard Dastan’s father was abusive, his mother struggled with her mental health, and his grandfather Hasan Dastan was murdered in a horrific bashing in 1995 for which his then-employee Kubilay Kilincer was later jailed.

“A football scholarship at Patrician Brothers did not provide any long term advantages as he left school and became disaffected with rugby league,” Justice Harrison said.

Justice Harrison said Dastan had completed business certificates in custody, as well as participating in drug and alcohol programs to address his longstanding substance abuse issues.

He said the court must denounce Dastan’s offending, which the Crown had characterised as “vigilantism”.

“There is no doubt he committed a terrible and cowardly crime,” Justice Harrison said.

“Mr Anderson was simply going about his business in the security of his home and in the company of his family and friends – Dastan’s crime was marked by an irrational obsession, and a stark disregard for human life.”

Justice Harrison convicted Dastan of murder and sentenced him to 21 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years and six months.

With time served, he will be eligible for release on November 26, 2034.

He was further convicted of participating in a criminal group and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment which expires today.