Bossley Park killer released on parole after appealing jail sentence for fresh DV offences

Jake Tortell, one of two men convicted of manslaughter over a stabbing at Bossley Park, has had his parole reinstated after successfully appealing his imprisonment on fresh domestic violence offences.

Jake Tortell successfully appealed against imprisonment for domestic violence charges.

A convicted killer thrown behind bars for breaching his parole when he told his ex-girlfriend “I know where you live, and you know it’s not going to end well” has been released into the community.

Jake Tortell was just 18 years old when he and a mate, Wade Martinez, stabbed 20-year-old George Garmo to death in the driveway of a home in Bossley Park on Valentine’s Day in 2015.

The two men were found guilty on a charge of murder in 2017, but later had their convictions overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal.

A retrial in 2020 saw the pair found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Martinez, who the court heard had a history of animosity towards Mr Garmo, was jailed for a maximum ten-and-a-half years, with a non-parole period of seven years and seven months.

Wade Martinez was also charged with the stabbing murder of George Garmo. Picture: AAP Image/David Moir

Tortell, who had no prior adverse history with Mr Garmo but had been influenced to participate in the crime by his friendship with Martinez, was sentenced to eight years and five months jail, with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years.

Tortell was released from custody in February 2021 to serve the balance of his sentence in the community, however his parole was revoked 15 months later in October 2022 after he was charged with intimidating and threatening his ex-girlfriend and contravening an apprehended violence order (AVO).

George Garmo was fatally stabbed at Bossley Park in 2015.

Court documents reveal Tortell had been charged with domestic violence offences and served with an AVO, which banned him from contacting the woman, following the breakdown of their relationship in March 2022.

The court heard he phoned the victim in September and told her “you better get those charges dropped or it is not going to end well”.

The woman asked him to leave her alone, however he responded “I know where you live, and you know it’s not going to end well”.

The woman told police the call left her feeling “very anxious” and she believed Tortell would turn violent if he found her.

Tortell was arrested, charged and refused bail on the fresh charges, while authorities revoked his parole on the manslaughter conviction.

He was subsequently found guilty of the domestic violence charges following a hearing in Liverpool Local Court in November and was sentenced to nine months jail, with a non-parole period of six months.

However, Tortell successfully appealed against his imprisonment, with a NSW District Court judge agreeing to reduce his sentence to a community-based intensive correction order.

Tortell fronted the NSW State Parole Authority at the end of last week seeking to have his parole reinstated.

The hearing was told Tortell would return to live with his mother at Catherine Fields and had full-time employment lined up as a builder.

The authority agreed to reinstate Tortell’s parole, which includes conditions banning him from drinking alcohol or using prohibited drugs.

He is also prohibited from contacting Martinez without the prior approval of his case officer.

Tortell’s total sentence expires on Australia Day next year.