Ex-boxer hurled sandwich press during prison riot as drug trafficking partner tried to restart sales: court
The shocking acts of a former boxer and his partner after their drug trafficking stint was busted have been revealed to a Queensland court.
A promising former boxer on remand for trafficking drugs with his girlfriend caused thousands of dollars in damages during a prison riot where he hurled a sandwich press at staff trying to quell the violence, a court has been told.
The shocking acts committed by Alexandria Elizabeth Byrne and Zachary Cassius Daddo after their drug trafficking stint was smashed were revealed as the two learned their fate at Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday.
While on remand over the matters, Daddo took part in a shocking prison riot where he hurled a sandwich press at jail staff and smashed windows.
The court was also told Byrne resumed trafficking drugs for a brief period in August 2019, while Daddo was in custody.
Byrne, 29 and Daddo, 26, pleaded guilty at Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to a raft of charges, including trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing weapons.
Daddo also pleaded guilty to a charge of rioting with a circumstance of aggravation.
A large crowd of family supporters sat quietly in the back of court as crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie outlined the pair’s descent into the arms of the law between late 2018 and 2019.
Mr Corsbie said the pair acted together, selling mainly methylamphetamine and GHB but also quantities of LSD, MDMA, marijuana, cocaine, liquid steroids and prescription medication “to a lesser extent”.
The business was conducted using either hired or stolen cars with false registration plates and the pair would meet at undisclosed rented locations to avoid being detected by police.
Mr Corsbie said Daddo took part in a riot at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre south of Brisbane on June 29 while he was on remand.
“It lasted for three hours and 12 minutes, it involved … throwing of projectiles at officers, ripping the fridge from floor fittings and deploying it as a barricade to the entrance (and) smearing substances over cameras to prevent them from being viewed,” he said.
“He (Daddo) was a party to that conduct by encouraging it.”
Mr Corsbie said Daddo took part by smashing windows in the exercise yard, arming himself with a sharpened brooming handle and throwing a sandwich press at corrective staff responding to the violence.
Justice Jackson said the riot caused up to $70,000 in damages.
Mr Corsbie said both Daddo and Byrne had access to weapons, including firearms, during the trafficking period.
A silencer and taser were located in one of Daddo’s vehicles following a crash in February 2019.
Daddo’s barrister, Robert Glenday, said his client had a promising career in boxing but spiralled into drug use after breaking his hand and losing his employment.
“His addiction increased … this has been his first and hopefully last time in custody,” Mr Glenday said.
The court was told Daddo had served more than two years in pre-sentence custody and had good employment prospects upon release.
Barrister Scott Lynch, acting for Byrne, said his client had been employed by the RSPCA for eight years before sliding into escalating drug use.
Mr Lynch said his client had grown up around “instability”.
The court was told Byrne had briefly worked as a sex worker but was now studying to become a hairdresser and had completed courses while in prison.
Byrne received a head sentence of four-and-a-half years jail, with a parole eligibility date on December 16 this year.
Daddo was sentenced to four years in jail and will be eligible for parole on August 16.
Their respective times spent in pre-sentence custody were declared as time served.