Latia Henderson, Kayley Ketley sentenced for Nisha Phillips kidnapping

They stabbed and kidnapped a young woman, and forced her into the boot of her own car. Now the young women responsible for the horrifying ordeal have been sentenced.

Two kidnappers have learnt their fate after they stabbed and forced a young woman into the boot of her own car in a frightening ordeal that only ended due to the victim’s quick-thinking.

Nisha Phillips, 24, was found with stab wounds in the boot of her own Holden Commodore on the Hume Hwy at Berrima on February 3, 2021.

Pregnant teenager Latia Henderson and Kayley Lee Ketley pleaded guilty to their roles in the kidnapping after they were pulled over on their way to the Belanglo State Forest.

Henderson, who was released on bail weeks before she gave birth to her son last year, admitted to a charge of taking and driving a conveyance and take/detain in company with the intent to commit a serious indictable offence occasioning actual bodily harm.

The 20-year-old woman also pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving during the ordeal.

Latia Henderson is seen outside the Campbelltown Courts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Kayley Ketley.

Ketley, 26, pleaded guilty to taking and driving a conveyance without consent of the owner, take/detain in company with serious indictable occasion, and reckless wounding.

Judge Jennifer English sentenced Henderson to seven years and six months in jail, with a non-parole period of five years. She is due to be released in May 2027.

Ketley was sentenced for this incident and unrelated offences to 11 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of six years and seven months. She is due to be released in September 2027.

Due to concerns expressed by Community Corrections after an incident in the cells following the sentencing hearing last week, Henderson appeared via video link for the proceedings.

Judge English said she was not privy to what had occurred. Henderson could be seen crying throughout the proceedings.

Snapchat videos of Latia Henderson and Kayley Lee Ketley were tendered to the court.

The pair were shown along their journey to Belanglo State Forest.

Supporters for both Ketley and Henderson sat in the court galley to hear the sentence being read out, but their numbers were restricted following a dispute outside the courthouse on Thursday.

In handing down her sentence, Judge Jennifer English said the victim suffered trauma and “continual violence” in the five hours she was held captive.

She said the pair were caught on their way to Belanglo State Forest, a destination with a “sinister connotation”.

Judge English said the victim was highly distressed when she was rescued, and her injuries were “somewhat serious”.

Ketley was “no stranger to the criminal justice system,” Judge English said.

Kayley Ketley.

“Whilst others might be minded to find her remorseful, watching her in court and her reactions, I am not convinced,” she said.

“She has reoffended in the most violence ways not once but twice.”

“I find her prospects of rehabilitation to be extremely guarded.”

Judge English acknowledged traumatic experiences Ketley suffered, her need for supervision and counselling, and her early guilty pleas.

In her remarks about Henderson, Judge English rejected any notion that the young mum felt pressured or confused about what was happening.

Latia Henderson.

She referenced a message from Henderson to a third party boasting Ketley “does what I say” and videos showing her singing along to rap music while driving the car.

“[The videos] do not show someone who is acting under duress … or show any visible signs of confusion,” Judge English said.

“She chose to accompany the co-offender and continue to do so.

“She chose to stab the victim when she was handed the knife.”

Judge English acknowledged Henderson’s dysfunctional upbringing, her need for counselling and rehabilitation as well as her early plea of guilty.

But, she said Henderson’s prospects for rehabilitation were guarded.

“It almost beggars belief that two women would treat another woman this way,” Judge English said.

The victim Nisha Phillips first met Kayley Lee Ketley in November 2020 and later introduced her to Latia Henderson, and she would often drive the pair around.

On February 3, Ms Phillips was driving the pair home when Ketley told her she would “slit your throat” after an argument.

Kayley Ketley and Latia Henderson.

Nisha Phillips was stuffed in the boot of her own Commodore after 12 hours of terror.

After the trio arrived at a Glenfield home, Ketley stabbed Phillips in the knee and thigh, and threatened “today I am going to kill you.”

Court documents revealed the victim was forced into the boot of her own car, stabbed again and driven around Campbelltown by Henderson and Ketley.

After 10am, the kidnapper duo were driving south on the Hume Highway, with Henderson’s phone showing directions to Belanglo State Forest.

Despite passing out a few times due to blood loss, Ms Phillips managed to remove the car’s left tail light using her fingernail to unscrew a screw and push the tail light out.

She put her hand out of the hole, frantically waving at cars to try and get them to notice and call for help.

Her plan was successful — two sets of motorists on the Hume Highway noticed the victim’s hand about 11.30am and contacted police.

Henderson and Ketley were pulled over by police and Ms Phillips was discovered in the boot of the car.

Campbelltown Courthouse.

At Campbelltown District Court on Thursday, Ketley, and Ben Feltl, 32, were also sentenced on an unrelated matter after they pleaded guilty to their involvement in a Boxing Day stabbing.

Ketley pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a person and taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, while Feltl pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm in company.

There was a verbal argument where the victim was accused of stealing $300 worth of food and Christmas shopping.

The victim denied this and swore at them. Feltl then pushed him onto a bed and got on top of him before Ketley stabbed him in the left leg with a knife.

Feltl tried to calm Ketley down and told her to stop, while the victim wrapped his leg in a blanket to stop the bleeding and ran out onto the street to get help.

The victim was in hospital for two months and required two surgeries.

The combined sentence of 11 years applies to Ketley.

Feltl was sentenced to one year, two months and five days in jail. He was due to be released on parole on Wednesday.