Hannah Zwetzloot, Kobi Winkelman, Anthony Hazell: Jail time for violent carjackers

A trio is behind bars after holding a man at gunpoint and demanding he hand over his car before almost hitting police officers while being pursued.

Three people who stole a car at gunpoint before leading police on a chase where they almost hit an officer have received jail time for their crimes.

Hannah Zwetzloot, 27, Kobi Winkelman, 23, and Anthony Hazell, 25, appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Friday facing aggravated carjacking and other charges.

In October 2020, Zwetsloot asked the victim to give her a lift from her house in Morwell to Traralgon in his Holden Commodore.

However, when he arrived Hazell and Winkelman — carrying a large knife and black pistol respectively — accosted him, demanding he hand the car over.

The victim tried to get away, however when the pair blocked him, he instead escaped down the street.

Anthony Hazell, 25, appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Friday facing aggravated carjacking and other charges.

After stealing the Commodore, Winkelman drove the trio to Yallourn North where Hazell stole a Volkswagen Golf.

The next day, police spotted the stolen Golf being driven by Wilkelman and began to tail it.

However, when police tried to pull the trio over, Winkelman ignored the flashing lights and sped through Morwell at speeds as high as 150km/h, sometimes on the wrong side of the road.

Trying to avoid tyre spikes thrown by police, the Golf almost hit Detective Sergeant Benbow, who had to dive behind a tree for safety.

When police eventually managed to stop the vehicle, the trio ran on foot before Hazell and Zwetsloot surrendered themselves to police.

Winkelman was later found and arrested.

On Friday, Winkelman was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for aggravated carjacking, recklessly exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving, dangerous driving while pursued by police, theft, and armed robbery.

Hazell will spend two years and three months behind bars for armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, theft and other unrelated drug trafficking charges.

For her involvement, and other unrelated drug charges, Zwetsloot was sentenced to 56 days in jail and a three year community corrections order.

On Friday, Winkelman was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for aggravated carjacking, recklessly exposing an emergency worker to risk by driving, dangerous driving while pursued by police, theft, and armed robbery.

Hazell will spend two years and three months behind bars for armed robbery, aggravated carjacking, theft and other unrelated drug trafficking charges.

For her involvement, and other unrelated drug charges, Zwetsloot was sentenced to 56 days in jail and a three year community corrections order.