Western Sydney men Thomas Pakau, Rebyll Oakiri plead guilty to concealment of grievous bodily harm in Jason Galleghan’s murder
New details have been revealed about the vicious attack which killed Jason Galleghan, with police alleging a group of minors attacked him because they ‘didn’t like how he looked at them’.
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A woman who is accused of orchestrating the murder of teenager Jason Galleghan at Doonside allegedly told police the juveniles who carried out the attack did it because they “didn’t like how he looked at them”.
The revelation comes after two men charged with concealing grievous bodily harm in the 16-year-old’s murder – Thomas Pakau, 19, and Rebyll Oakiri, 25 – pleaded guilty at Penrith Local Court on Friday.
Galleghan’s brutal murder in August 2021 sent shockwaves through Sydney, after the 16-year-old was found inside a Doonside home with significant injuries, including a concaved chest and head trauma.
Almost a dozen people have since been charged, including five adults and five juveniles who cannot be identified due to court rules protecting minors.
Draft documents tendered to the court after Oakiri’s plea of guilty detail for the first time interviews between police, multiple juveniles, and Kayla Dawson, who allegedly organised the attack.
Speaking to police on August 6 2021, Dawson allegedly told police the youths inside the home assaulted Galleghan in the spare bedroom. Asked why, she said: “They didn’t like him.”
“They didn’t like him cause he looked at them weird,” Dawson allegedly told police. “Then they bashed him because they wanted him to leave.”
Days later, Dawson allegedly told police she “set up the murder”, and she “called (Galleghan) and told him to come get bashed” after he stole Dawson’s Apple Airpods.
In the days after the alleged murder, NSW Police swooped in on properties in Sydney’s west where they arrested multiple youths, the draft police facts reveal for the first time.
On August 6, Pakau, Oakiri, and Richard Sione were at Sione’s Doonside home when NSW Police arrested two minors. One was allegedly still wearing clothes stained with blood.
Another two minors were later arrested later that day at the Ermington Hotel.
Once in custody, a 15-year-old allegedly told NSW Police Galleghan “deserved it”.
“When you live this life, you don’t steal shit,” the juvenile allegedly said.
Richard Bartolo, who was jailed for his role in covering up Galleghan’s alleged murder, allegedly told officers a 15-year-old teenage girl charged with murder was the main instigator.
“(She) was acting all sweet and took (Galleghan) to the bedroom,” he allegedly told police. “Then, she told people: ‘you’re jumping in, you’re jumping in.’”
Bartolo allegedly told police he had tried to “protect” Galleghan.
“(The juveniles) were running down the hallway just laughing their asses off,” he allegedly said. “They were trying to find weapons and that, (but) they didn’t find any - there was nothing sharp to use.
“So they just used their hands and feet. These people just wanted to stomp his head over something little.”
Appearing at Penrith Local Court on Friday, lawyers representing Oakirri and Pakau, who allegedly left the home shortly after the attack began, said negotiations were ongoing with police over their version of events.
Draft facts tendered to the court alleged Pakau had been at the home to get Hennessy cognac when he walked in on Richard Sione, 29, allegedly assaulting Galleghan. Sione has been charged with murder.
“I pulled Richie off and then the other boys tried to jump on me,” Pakau allegedly told police.
Afterwards, the pair left and continued to drink for the remainder of the night.
Sione, who Pakau said most of the co-accused refer to as “Dad”, was allegedly alone in the room assaulting Galleghan before the juveniles joined in, draft facts tendered Friday reveal.
Sione was arrested the night of the alleged murder alongside one juvenile who has also been charged. Police allege he smelt heavily of alcohol at the time.
He has not entered any pleas and will reappear before the Sydney Supreme Court in April.
Oaakiri, who did not enter the room where Galleghan was attacked, had also gone to the home looking for alcohol, and claimed to have heard loud noises emanating from the room.
Days later, he claimed he saw a video of the assault on Instagram.
Asked why he didn’t contact police, Oakiri said he was afraid he and his cousin – Pakau – would be implicated, and that the pair hadn’t done anything wrong.
He claimed to have later told Stacey Pale, who pleaded guilty to also being an accessory after the fact last week, that he wanted to go to the police but was dissuaded.
Pale, 37, of Bidwill, admitted to lying to neighbours concerned about the incident, telling them it was a “family dispute”, before also later lying to police.
She told officers she was not close to Dawson, but according to documents obtained after Oakiri’s plea, Pale was referred to by the co-accused as “Mum”.
Pale was also allegedly in a relationship with Sione.
She will appear before the Sydney Supreme Court later this year for sentencing.
Dawson has not entered pleas and will reappear before Penrith Local Court on March 10.
Oakiri and Pakau will reappear before Penrith Local Court on May 5. Both men are also facing charges of breaching bail conditions.
Five juveniles charged in relation with the murder are still before the courts.
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