Rayne Aylward, 21, sentenced for brutal stabbing murder of Ned Gronow, 17, at Casino NSW family home

Northern NSW mum Julie Gronow “cannot unsee the horror” of the “bloodbath” she witnessed after her son Ned, 17, was stabbed to death in his sleep. Today a young killer learnt his fate.

Northern Rivers mum Julie Gronow “cannot unsee the horror” of the “absolute bloodbath” she witnessed after her son Ned Gronow, 17, was repeatedly and fatally stabbed in his sleep in the family home.

Rayne William Aylward, 21, earlier pleaded guilty to and on Tuesday was sentenced for the murder of Ned in the Casino property – while the teen’s parents slept nearby – on June 25, 2022, in the midst of a dispute.

Ned Gronow.

Aylward was sentenced to 18 years jail with a 12-year non-parole period in the NSW Supreme Court at Lismore – prompting a chaotic outpouring of emotions from those in the room.

His sentence was backdated to June 26, 2022, due to time served, and is due to expire on June 25, 2040. Aylward will be eligible for parole on June 25, 2034.

Julie Gronow speaks alongside family following the sentence. Picture: Cath Piltz/NewsLocal

Ms Gronow harshly criticised the sentence in and out of the courtroom, describing Aylward as “evil” and the penalty for the “cold blooded” killing as not good enough – not enough time for snatching a life. She read a statement outside the courthouse, with family in support.

“As parents, as you kiss your child goodnight, remember the Australian justice systems value their life at only 18 years in prison – and possibly just 12 years with parole,” she said.

Killer Rayne Aylward.

Aylward was aged just 18 when he stabbed Ned at least a dozen times. Ned’s injuries, including to his head, were horrendous.

On Monday, Ms Gronow lamented to the court she was unable to stop her son running into evil.

She told the court she “cannot unsee the horror of that scene”, which was exceedingly graphic and distressing.

Rayne William Aylward, now 20, murdered Ned Gronow, 17.

Tears flowed as details emerged in the courtroom and the pain of Ned’s family and friends was evident. Tissues were handed out by court staff.

Ms Gronow said she heard the family dog barking shortly after 1am on the night, thought someone was inside the home, ventured to check on Ned and was met with the sight of her son deceased in his room, half propped up in bed.

Kye Douglas Aylward earlier pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder.

She said Ned “never got to be 18” and she was “stuck in a dark time capsule of those terrible moments that unfolded after 1am on Friday the 25th of June”.

“ … the next day never dawned,” she said.

Ms Gronow said Ned “didn’t get a choice” to live a long life and the court heard the family home had been left to gather dust, despite an ongoing mortgage.

Ned’s dad Tom Gronow told the court the Casino house “stands abandoned as a reminder we have broken lives”.

A remembrance stone lays outside Lismore Courthouse for murdered 17-year-old Casino boy Ned Gronow.

Aylward also spoke out in court – and many of Ned’s family and supporters took to their feet and left the room.

He said he was a “broken man full of regret”, and took full responsibility for the killing.

Crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell told the court the attack – an “execution-style killing” – was carried out following an alleged claim of sexual assault made days beforehand.

Aylward and Gronow were previously friends. A girl who cannot legally be named sent a text to Aylward claiming Ned hurt her, the court heard.

The murderer walked an hour to the Gronow home the night of the slaying, it was revealed.

Defence barrister Ian Nash conceded to Supreme Court Justice Helen Wilson his client went to the Gronow home with the intention of killing Ned.

Lismore Courthouse. Picture: Cath Piltz

“It is conceded there was an intention to kill, and that was recognised in the evidence the offender gave today,” he said.

Ms Gronow told the court the “hellish night” had left her a shell of a person.

“You may get a glimpse of the life I live – it is more an existence than a life I recognise, she said.

“May no one ever be forced to go where I am now. There is no way out from this horror.

Rayne Aylward in a Facebook photo.

“I’m just the shell of a happy mother-of-four before the hellish night two years ago when everything in my life was devastated.”

The court was told: “Evil truly exists. A murderer lived amongst us.”

“How can I possibly find the words to relate … gutted, hopeless, forlorn … since that fateful night,” Ms Gronow said.

Rayne Aylward, then 18, repeatedly and fatally stabbed Ned Gronow, 17, in the midst of a dispute.

Rayne Aylward’s father, Kye Douglas Aylward of Ulmarra, earlier pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to the McDougall St murder.

Judge Wilson was told Aylward suffered a dysfunctional and abusive upbringing, which affected thinking, behaviour and ultimately contributed to his actions.

The court was also told the allegations aired to Aylward by the girl triggered repressed trauma.

Ned’s murder happened less than a month after the separate stabbing death of Canberra’s Lachlan Andrews, 17, at a KFC restaurant in the small town of Casino, near Lismore.

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