Teen admits to taking part in man’s murder, arson of home over ‘rumour’ of $10k hit on woman
A court has been told how a “ridiculous rumour” about an unfounded $10,000 hit on a woman led to a teenager taking part in a man’s murder and arson of his home.
A teenager took part in the vicious stabbing of a man – likened to a “Mexican cartel” style movie – before his house was burnt down, all over an unfounded “rumour” of a $10,000 hit on a woman.
Family members of slain Lockyer Valley father Jamie Barlow revealed their devastation at losing the beloved 48-year-old when he was allegedly stabbed to death in June 2022.
In a callous move, Mr Barlow’s house was then doused in petrol and ignited while his partner Stacey Vale and his pets were still inside.
During a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Brisbane Supreme Court was told the horrific incident effectively started over a “rumour” started by Mr Barlow that he had taken out a $10,000 hit on a neighbour, Tahlia Healy, after she complained about him to police.
“That just appeared unrealistic from his financial circumstances,” Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said.
Despite this, Ms Healy enlisted the help of her friends for her protection, with the teenager acting as a “security service” and staying at her home, the court was told.
Ms Kelso said others – including Charlotte Laura Barratt, Nicholas Graeme Barnett, Bailey Douglas Sinclair, Gabriel Humberto Jones and Braiden Taylor Leslie Harris – allegedly became involved when discussions progressed to “threats of harm” against Mr Barlow.
“(They) considered themselves and called themselves a family under the leadership of Mr Jones,” Ms Kelso told the court.
The court was told Mr Barlow was allegedly stabbed to death by Mr Jones at the bottom of the back stairs to his Laidley home after the group travelled there on June 20, 2022.
“It was that assault that prompted him to start screaming and moaning, which woke Ms Vale from her sleep,” Ms Kelso said.
The teenager entered the home – allegedly with other members of the group – where he splashed accelerant from a jerry can in the kitchen before setting it on fire.
Ms Vale managed to escape with her pet dogs, but the couple’s pet cat and snake perished in the blaze.
Mr Barlow died from his wounds despite first-aid attempts.
“It almost feels reminiscent of some sort of Mexican cartel movie or documentary in terms of the forethought and execution which went into it,” Ms Kelso said.
The court was told the teenager did not inflict the stab wounds but had pleaded guilty to charges of murder and arson, which related to his involvement in being present when Mr Barlow died and setting fire to the home.
Ms Kelso said the teenager bragged to his mates about the killing on social media, asserting he was personally responsible for Mr Barlow’s death.
She told the court the teenager claimed to have heard an unfounded rumour about Mr Barlow having “touched Ms Healy when she was young” and claimed “all pedophiles deserve it”.
“It is entirely without substance,” Ms Kelso said of the rumour.
In her victim impact statement, Ms Vale said she would never forget seeing the man she considered her “soulmate, covered head to toe in blood”.
“On that night, I lost my pets and all of my possessions and memories,” she said.
“It has had a profound impact on how my life has progressed moving forward.”
Ms Vale revealed the emotional and mental distress had changed her life – now requiring medication for anxiety and depression and finding it hard to go out alone.
Mr Barlow’s sister Karen said everyone was “broken-hearted” after losing him in “horrendous circumstances”.
“He lost his life over what? A rumour,” she said.
“It is a ridiculous reason, it is nonsensical.
“How could you value a human life so cheaply? We cannot comprehend it and are all incandescent with rage at the thought of it.”
The teenager was supported by his mother in court. She wrote a letter to the court speaking of a relationship “under a period of repair and rehabilitation … between mother and son”.
“What’s particularly apparent is there’s no echo of diminishing the seriousness of what (he) did,” the teenager’s barrister Laura Reece said.
Ms Reece said her client had taken part in restorative justice conferences where he had shown significant insight into his offending, and remorse.
The court was told a doctor had preliminary diagnosed the teenager with autism, anxiety and depression. He also had no criminal history.
Supreme Court Justice Peter Callaghan adjourned the sentencing to a later date.
Ms Barratt, Mr Barnett, Mr Sinclair, Mr Jones, Mr Harris and Ms Healy are all facing charges of murder which are still before the courts, and they are contesting the charges.