Kayla Dawson and Richard Sione sentenced for Jason Galleghan’s death

Two alleged associates of a western Sydney postcode gang have learnt their fates for their roles in the savage bashing murder of a helpless 16-year-old boy.

Jason Galleghan.

The mother of a teen brutally murdered by a western Sydney postcode gang’s associates said her son was betrayed by a young mother he had helped when all her friends abandoned her.

Jason Galleghan, 16, was savagely beaten to death by several children and an adult at Kayla Dawson’s Doonside home on August 4, 2021 after she accused him of stealing her AirPods.

Those charged over Jason’s death were allegedly affiliated with the Doonside-based “27” postcode gang and chilling footage of the horrific attack was later posted to social media.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme found Dawson, then 19, and Richard Sione, 32, guilty of Jason’s murder due to their roles in the joint criminal enterprise devised to punish Jason for the alleged AirPods theft.

On Friday, he sentenced Sione to at least 24 years’ imprisonment and Dawson to at least 13 years’ imprisonment.

Jason’s mother Rachel has now given six victim impact statements – one for each child and adult convicted of killing her son.

Jason Galleghan.

At the NSW Supreme Court on Friday, Ms Galleghan said Jason and Dawson had known each other for years and he had reconnected with Dawson when she was in a time of real need.

“When I asked why he was talking to her he said he felt sorry due to the situation she was in – she was pregnant, had lost all her friends, and he felt bad for her,” Ms Galleghan said.

“My son was the kindest person with the biggest heart who genuinely cared about the people in his life – Jason helped Kayla during a difficult time in her life when she had no one else, only for her to plan an attack that resulted in his death.”

Ms Galleghan said Dawson did not stop the people who brutally assaulted her son, and that she instead recorded it, laughed, and sent the videos to her friends.

Kayla Dawson.

“She understood exactly what was happening, and while Jason was in a hospital bed fighting for his life, she gave interviews to TV reporters, continuing to lie about what happened and acting as if what happened meant nothing to her,” Ms Galleghan said.

Ms Galleghan said Sione was the reason her son was no longer with her, that she cannot talk to him or see his “beautiful smile”.

“Richard Sione stole these moments from me when he brutally assaulted my son and ordered others to finish Jason off,” Ms Galleghan said.

“He did not stop when Jason pleaded him to, and he told those in the room to continue to torture him – he was the main catalyst in Jason’s death.”

Richard Sione.

Ms Galleghan slammed Sione’s “shocking” behaviour throughout the trial and “complete lack of remorse”, referring to him smirking and laughing during the proceedings.
“Jason was robbed of his life, he had a bright future ahead of him … I would give anything to hear Jason’s voice, hear his laugh, hug him, have a conversation with him and just be his mum,” Ms Galleghan said.

“I can’t describe how much I loathe Richard Sione for taking that away from me.”

Murder victim Jason Galleghan's mum Rachel Galleghan outside court after Dawson and Sione were found guilty of murder. Picture: Eliza Barr

Dawson was charged with murder because she was alleged to have orchestrated the attack, while Sione was charged because he was alleged to have instigated the fatal attack.

During the trial, Dawson contended she should only be found guilty of manslaughter due to the impairing effect of intellectual disability.

Sione, now 32, argued he did not deal the fatal blows to Jason – and that five young people who continued the assault after he left Dawson’s home were responsible for his death.

Sione was convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment dating from October 10, 2021 with a non-parole period of 24 years.

Dawson was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment dating from August 8, 2021 with a 13-year non-parole period.

Three children who were then aged between 13 and 16 have been jailed after pleading guilty to their roles in Jason’s murder, with another 13-year-old jailed for manslaughter.

A fifth child is yet to enter a plea.