Tony Mokbel’s jailhouse attackers cop massive spray from judge
A County Court judge who served Tony Mokbel’s young jailhouse attackers a dose of reality as well as a jail term has been praised for her straight-talking. WATCH THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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A straight-talking judge who slammed Tony Mokbel’s jailhouse attackers has been praised by a victims of crime advocate who said there should be more of it.
County Court Judge Liz Gaynor warned Teira Bennett and Eldea Teuira they were not heroes and would “end up drug-addled lonely old men” if they continued their violent criminal ways as she jailed the pair for 10 years yesterday.
Victims of crime advocate Maria Aylward, whose sister and brother-in-law were murdered in 2013, said Judge Gaynor’s outrage was fantastic and it was about time judges were “more straight-talking and telling it how it is”.
“I think it would give people a little bit more comfort knowing the justice system is actually taking it seriously and putting their money where their mouth is,” Ms Aylward told the Herald Sun.
“We talk about it being just and fair and it never seems that way in court so to hear a judge actually say it how it is and speak her mind about criminals and the way that they’ve behaved, and the way that their life is probably going to go, she’s probably right and I think there should be more of it.
“There should be more outrage by judges, the prosecution.
“Maybe if more judges said more things victims would feel a little bit more appeased, it’s not going to bring people back but it definitely would be nice to hear that they are on our side for a change because it never feels like they are.
“It’s about time they made a stand instead of standing back and going we just have to apply the law – apply the law but do it as you mean it.
“It’s about time they started highlighting people’s behaviour, stopped the excuses and said it how it is.”
Herald Sun readers also praised the “brilliant job” by Judge Gaynor.
Reader Fifi Jay posted on Facebook they “should all follow her lead”, while another praised her courage for speaking up as to how the public feel.
Kirk Everett even said the spray was worth of the AFL coaching ranks.
Bennett, 21, and Teira, 22, were both jailed for 10 years over the frenzied attack that almost killed Mokbel at Barwon Prison on February 11 last year.
The pair were initially facing an attempted murder charge, but in a prosecution plea deal they pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.
They also pleaded guilty to a second charge of recklessly causing injury to an associate of Mokbel’s who was stabbed when he ran to his aid.
Judge Gaynor said the attack with three shivs — one made by sharpened wire, the other a fork — was to assert the dominance of the G-Fam group of Pacific Islander inmates in the prison system.
“This was extraordinarily serious offending. The attack on him was brazen. The injuries you inflicted were life threatening,” Judge Gaynor said.
“I am satisfied the attack was carried out to assert the dominance of the G-Fam group in the prison system.”
A day before the attack, an article in the Herald Sun said Mokbel was a top prison enforcer who had disrupted an extortion racket run by Pacific Islander inmates.
Judge Gaynor told the pair she had seen so many young men like them go off the rails and it was up to them to change their paths, saying G-Fam would not be there for them on their release.
“You may think you are heroes, standing up for G-Fam the way you did on this occasion,” she said.
“The only reason you are getting any attention is because it was Tony Mokbel.
“When you are 40, you see what G-Fam and the bros do for you. You will end up drug-addled lonely old men.”
Bennett and Teira launched their vicious attack on an unsuspecting Mokbel as he walked through the exercise yard about 4pm.
He had earlier been and congratulated Bennett at a gathering to celebrate his 21st birthday.
Without warning, Bennett punched Mokbel to the head with such force, the drug kingpin fell to the ground unconscious.
Teira then jumped on a defenceless Mokbel and stabbed him multiple times, before Bennett kicked him in the head three times.
“Mr Mokbel did not move from the time of the first punch and could not defend himself,” Judge Gaynor said.
The pair were already serving jail terms for other violent offending, with today’s sentences being added to give them a new head sentence.
Bennett is now serving 11 years and 2 months while Teira 10-years and 10 months.
The pair sat smiling and trying to engage with each other throughout the hearing.
Once Judge Gaynor finished the sentencing, they could be overheard discussing their new jail terms.
“So how long are we doing now?” Teira asked.
Bennett replied: “I don’t know. I think 10 years.”
“Wow, that’s a fair whack,” Teira said.
The pair then laughed, before talking about how they love jail.
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