Glenn Walewicz’s mother ‘lost in grief’ after son’s murder

The mother of murder victim Glenn Walewicz has described being “lost in grief” at the sentencing hearing for one of the men responsible for her son’s murder.

Gary Taylor will spend at least five and a half years behind bars for the role he played in the “cowardly” murder of Glenn Walewicz.

Mr Walewicz was shot dead in the doorway of his Phillip, ACT, apartment on July 10, 2021 in a case mistaken identity.

Baradine, NSW, man Gary Taylor faced the ACT Supreme Court after pleading guilty to murder for the role he played in the killing.

Prosecutors allege Taylor and a then 17-year-old, who cannot be named, were instructed by Nicole Williams to invade the home of a known drug dealer to steal drugs and money. Williams denies the allegations.

The prosecution alleges Williams gave the teen a .22 rifle and said his target may be armed.

Glenn Walewicz was murdered in July 2021. Picture: Supplied

Taylor, the 17-year-old, and a 12-year-old were driven from Holt, ACT to Phillip, ACT by Reatile Ncube and went to Mr Walewicz’s apartment by mistake.

During a sentencing hearing on Wednesday prosecutors played graphic CCTV depicting Taylor, the 12-year-old and 17-year-old outside of Mr Walewicz’s apartment.

Mr Walewicz is not seen in the footage, but he is heard asking “who is it, who is it?”

Taylor is seen knocking on Walewicz’s door before the 17-year-old co-offender points a large gun through Walewicz’s gate door.

Shots are heard before cries from Mr Walewicz’s final moments.

Mr Walewicz’s family members expressed distress in the courtroom as the footage was shown.

A teenager who cannot be named seen shooting a rifle into Glenn Walewicz‘s apartment. Picture: supplied

Mr Walewicz’s sister Leah took the stand to read a powerful victim impact statement written by her mother Jenny.

“The loss of Glenn, my son, has left a massive hole in my life that cannot be filled,” she said

“(Glenn) was a kind of glue who kept the extended family together.

“I’ll never be the same, a part of me has died.

Ms Walewicz said she held onto her son’s ashes because she was not sure if she could “let him go”.

She said her life was “in limbo for 12 months” during the police investigation and she was filled with a new form grief when charges were laid.

“All I am seeking is peace and justice for my son,” she said.

“He paid the ultimate price for this senseless act.”

Glenn Walewicz’s mother Jenny described her son as the “glue” that kept her family together. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Taylor’s lawyer said there was a “causal connection” between his client’s “turbulent upbringing” and drug abuse to his offending.

He said his client faced bullying, including racist abuse due to being Indigenous, growing up and said his father regularly abused drugs.

The lawyer said Taylor found his father after he died by suicide, which led to his client’s mental health deteriorating from depression and PTSD.

He said Taylor used methamphetamine to self medicate and said he was using drugs at the time of the murder.

Crown Prosecutor Anthony Williamson said Taylor had expressed remorse and was “candid” with police about his role in the incident after he was arrested.

Mr Williamson said he accepted Taylor was struggling with drug dependence and mental illness, but said it did not mitigate moral culpability.

The prosecutor described Mr Walewicz’s murder as “cowardly”.

Justice David Mossop sentenced Taylor to 10 years and 3 months jail with a non parole period of 5 years and 6 months.

The sentence was backdated to June 9, 2022 to account for time spent remanded in custody.

Justice Mossop said due to Taylor’s co-operation with police, his early guilty plea, his relatively minor role in the murder and his problematic upbringing, a discount of 40 per cent was necessary.

Taylor will serve his jail time in a NSW prison, after he received threats due to his co-operation with police.

The 13-year-old was initially charged with murder but had his charges dropped.

The then 17-year old co-accused has pleaded guilty to murder in the ACT Children’s Court.

Reatile Ncube was given a suspended jail sentence last month after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

Nicole Williams and her son Jayden Williams will face the Supreme Court for trial later this year.

Ms Williams has pleaded not guilty to accessory to murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, and two counts of recruiting a child to engage in criminal activity.

Mr Williams has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to murder and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.