Brenton Kevin Lienert hit teen with car at Strathalbyn after chase sparked by ‘tormenting’ teens
The teenager was at a birthday party for mates – until a local man got his car and drove it at a group of teens, running him down, a court heard.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A “monster” who intentionally ran down a teenager at a birthday party during a high-emotion chase was aiming at a group of teens who had “tormented” his family, a court has heard.
On Friday, Brenton Kevin Lienert, 53, appeared in the District Court for sentencing submissions after the December 2, 2023, crash.
The boy – who cannot legally be identified – hit by Lienert’s car when he was just 15 sat in the public gallery with his family as prosecutors read his victim impact statement to the court.
Judge Heath Barklay was told the boy’s future had been put on hold after multiple broken bones and recovery meant he couldn’t study or learn to drive, while he was forced to cancel his 16th birthday party.
“Now I can’t get my L-plates on my 16th birthday and won’t be able to get my driver’s licence, which I need ASAP to start my carpentry apprenticeship, which means I won’t be able to start my future job as soon as I need to,” prosecutors read.
“It has pushed back my whole career … I’m missing out on so much right now, and this just didn’t need to happen to me.
“I will now have a screw, that is in my heel bone for the rest of my life and it will go off through metal detectors and I’ll have to explain why every time.”
The court heard the boy had been spending time with a group of friends at a birthday party during the weekend of the crash.
The boy’s mother read a statement to the court, and detailed her fears her child had died just days after Charlie Stevens was struck and killed at Schoolies, and how the “monster” had left the scene.
“He showed no remorse, no accountability, no guilt, no regret, no compassion, just cold psychotic anger and rage,” the mother said.
Lienert pleaded guilty to one count of causing harm with intent to cause harm, and one count of driving in a manner dangerous to the public.
The court heard Lienert and his family had been recently “tormented” by a group of teenagers – whom the teen spent time with – who had been banging on doors late at night and scaring his family.
One of the teenagers that morning had written in the dust on Lienert’s car, which sparked a chase that ended with the Strathalbyn man mounting a kerb and hitting the boy.
Judge Barklay said he has seen CCTV footage of the incident, and some of the boys were wearing a face covering.
Prosecutors acknowledged that the incident was not “entirely unprovoked” but that Lienert’s conduct “could not be excused”.
Judge Barklay remanded Lienert on continuing bail for further submissions to be heard in December.
More Coverage
Originally published as Brenton Kevin Lienert hit teen with car at Strathalbyn after chase sparked by ‘tormenting’ teens
Four arrests as STAR Group swoops over break-in shooting
The arrests come after a person was shot in the leg during a home invasion at Gulfview Heights this week.
Calling all mums and dads: Take the Great Parent Survey 2025
From school standards to screen time, we’re taking the pulse of Australia’s mums and dads – while famous parents like Olympic champion Libby Trickett are also diving in.