Clea Rose’s killer stole Tesla from Nick Kyrgios in bid to ‘communicate with Elon Musk’, ACT Supreme Court hears
A killer was experiencing “delusional beliefs” when he stole tennis star Nick Kyrgios’ Tesla in a bid to talk to the car company’s boss about microchips and vaccines.
Canberra Star
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A convicted killer was experiencing “delusional beliefs” about persecution when he pointed a gun at Nick Kyrgios’ mother in order to steal the tennis star’s Tesla, which he thought he could use to “communicate with Elon Musk”.
The 33-year-old offender’s “crazy thoughts” somehow made him believe his actions would help “protect society” from powerful people, the ACT Supreme Court heard as he was sentenced on Tuesday to four-and-a-half years in jail.
Acting Justice Rebecca Christensen, who found the man had acted while in the midst of a drug-induced psychosis, imposed a non-parole period of two years and 11 months.
The robber, who has a lengthy criminal history dating back to his childhood, is not named for legal reasons.
His record includes serving jail time for culpable driving causing death, having hit and killed university student Clea Rose while fleeing police in a stolen car when he was just 14.
Nearly two decades after that incident, which occurred in 2005, he again tried to outrun police.
This time it was in a $125,000 bright green Tesla Model X, which he stole from the Kyrgios family home in Canberra in May 2023.
Acting Justice Christensen said the robbery had been planned and the “distinctive” car was specifically targeted, but it was unclear whether the offender knew it belonged to Kyrgios.
She detailed how Kyrgios’ mother, Norlaila Kyrgios, had answered a knock at the door to find a masked gunman pointing a shotgun at her head on the morning in question.
The offender demanded the keys to the Tesla, which was parked outside, and asked Mrs Kyrgios to show him how to drive it.
Mrs Kyrgios handed over the keys but screamed for help, waking her tennis star son as he slept inside.
Kyrgios sprang into action, using the Tesla app on his phone to limit the luxury car’s speed to 80km/h and relay its movements to police.
After pursuing the vehicle across multiple suburbs, police managed to corner the car and arrest the robber.
The man, who was remanded in custody, ultimately pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and failing to stop a motor vehicle for police.
He also asked Acting Justice Christensen to take into account offences of driving a motor vehicle without consent and driving while suspended.
On Tuesday, the judge revealed the drug-addicted offender had claimed he planned to use the car to talk to Tesla chief executive Elon Musk about microchips and vaccines.
She also noted the significant impact of the “abhorrent” robbery on the victims, who provided statements to the court last month.
Acting Justice Christensen recounted how Kyrgios had written about waking to the sound of his mother’s screams, which were “no doubt a haunting memory”.
She also recalled the ways in which Mrs Kyrgios had suffered psychologically since “the safety of the family home was eroded”.
The robber asked to serve his sentence on a drug and alcohol treatment order, but these can only be made in the ACT as part of jail terms that are between one and four years.
As she found the robber’s offending warranted a more lengthy sentence, Acting Justice Christensen observed that treatment orders were “not a panacea for all offenders”.
Kyrgios’ sister, singer Halimah Kyrgios, became emotional outside court as she told reporters her family was “pleased with the decision”.
“However, it cannot bring back the peace that the man stole from us,” she said.
“We don’t wish the trauma we have suffered on anyone, and hope this serves as a catalyst for the courts to be less lenient.
“We’ve always learned to forgive, but I think, personally, just for the safety of the community, this was dealt with the right way.”
The robber, who blew a kiss to supporters in the public gallery as he was led out of court, will become eligible for parole in March 2026.
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