Matthew Ryan jailed after loaning car, phone to mate wanted for alleged murder of Daniel Clulow
He knew his mate was wanted for the alleged murder of Illawarra man Daniel Clulow but that didn’t stop Matthew Ryan picking him up in the ute, letting him use his mobile phone, and then accompanying him on a dramatic police chase.
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An Illawarra father will be released from jail later this month after he helped a mate stay on the run from police following an alleged murder, letting him use his car and mobile phone.
Matthew Ryan, 30, was sentenced to 18 months jail with a non-parole period of nine months in the NSW District Court on Wednesday, after he assisted 27-year-old Darren Butler in his alleged two week run from the law following the death of 27-year-old father-of-seven Daniel Clulow.
Mr Clulow, also known as Daniel Merrett, was killed on May 18 last year, after the car he was travelling in crashed into the back of a petrol tanker, while allegedly being chased and shot at by another vehicle.
Mr Clulow died at the scene of the horrific crash, suffering from severe head and brain injuries, while three other people in the car were seriously injured.
Police allege Mr Clulow’s car was being chased by Butler, Andrew Russell and Holly Green, following a dispute with Mr Clulow about a sum of money. It will be alleged Russell fired shots at the vehicle from a rifle, while Butler was driving the car.
Butler, who police allege spent almost two weeks on the run after a warrant was issued for his arrest, was eventually charged with a single count of murder, two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and dangerous driving occasioning death, while Russell is also facing a charge of murder, robbery while armed and a new charge of fire firearm in a public place. Green is facing a charge of hinder apprehension of person who committed indictable offence. The trio are yet to enter pleas.
In documents tendered to the court, it’s alleged Butler went to ground for almost two weeks after Mr Clulow’s death, enlisting the help of several girlfriends and his mate, Ryan.
On Wednesday, the court heard that while Ryan was in custody at the time of Mr Clulow’s death, he was well aware his mate Butler was a wanted man, after his mum called him in jail to relay the news on May 22 last year.
Two days later Ryan was released from custody. While he was on parole at the time and ‘supposed to be of good character’ it took less than a week for him to get in contact with Butler, who was still on the run.
On May 30, Ryan picked Butler up from a Warilla address in a white Nissan Utility, before letting the wanted man take the wheel.
Later that morning he allowed Butler to use his mobile phone to contact his girlfriend, before they headed to Figtree to pick her up.
Butler was allegedly spotted driving the vehicle, which sparked a dangerous police pursuit on the Princes Highway, involving several police vehicles and a helicopter.
The pursuit came to an end some minutes later, after Butler allegedly mounted a kerb and tried to run.
The trio were arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where Ryan admitted he picked Butler up “knowing he was in so much trouble”. He admitted that while “it wasn’t the best thing to do” his “loyalties are about more than that”.
He was subsequently charged with -hinder apprehension of person who committed serious indictable offence and plead guilty earlier this year.
In handing down his sentence on Wednesday, Judge Andrew Haesler said while the period in which Ryan assisted Butler was relatively short-lived, the fact it was connected to a homicide investigation was “very serious”.
“The most important things in his life were put aside to help a mate…,” he said.
“I think he’s smart enough to realise the wrong decision was made.”
While the defence argued that he played no active role in the pursuit, the crown argued that lending a wanted man a car was extremely serious, in that he was providing an escapee a vehicle to avoid apprehension, or even flee the jurisdiction.
Judge Haesler took into account Ryan’s diagnosis of schizophrenia and substance abuse, as well as the fact he was becoming institutionalised when imposing his sentence, handing down a total sentence of 18 months with a non-parole period of nine months.
“I hope not to see you again but I’m not confident that will be the case,” Judge Haesler said to Ryan.
“When and if you meet your friends from jail in the community and they suggest you do something … you have a choice … think about your [family] or the cell you’re about to leave.”
With time already served Ryan will be eligible for release to parole on June 29.