Mason Lee Butler given suspended sentence for Groote Eylandt revenge attack due to “good prospects” of rehabilitation

A young Groote Eylandt man caught up in a violent revenge attack has been given a second chance at rehabilitation.

A romantic camping trip turned into a nightmare for a teenage couple after they were ambushed in the middle of the night by a jealous ex-boyfriend and his friends seeking revenge.

Mason Lee Butler, 21, from Groote Eylandt was sentenced in the Supreme Court at Darwin on December 20 for his involvement in an attack led by his friend and co-accused, 19, against his friend’s ex-girlfriend and new flame on April 1, 2023.

Butler, who was 20 years old at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to seven offences including two counts of unlawful assault, two counts of threatening to kill, causing damage to a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing soft drinks.

The court heard Butler’s friend’s ex-girlfriend, 17, and her new boyfriend, 18, were camping in a remote spot known as Wayne’s World at Jagged Head when they were confronted by her ex-boyfriend, Butler and another male, 18.

The trio allegedly stole a Toyota Land Cruiser which they used to drive to the spot, revving the engine and flashing the sleeping couple with the high beams on as they arrived in the early hours of the morning.

Butler smashed the back window and snapped the awning of the new boyfriend’s Nissan Patrol while the ex-boyfriend allegedly punched and kicked him before the pair began throwing the couple’s belongings around.

It is then alleged that the ex-boyfriend kicked his ex-girlfriend in the head twice before launching another attack on her boyfriend with Butler, repeatedly kicking and punching him in the head and torso, causing his nose and mouth to bleed and chipping his front teeth.

In an attempt to protect her boyfriend, the girl rolled on top of him and was kicked in the head multiple times.

The couple were spat on, called derogatory names and threatened by Butler and the ex-boyfriend who filmed himself saying, “I want to kill the c**t. I’ll go to prison for you today. I’ll kill you.”

Butler and his friend kicked and punched his friend’s ex-girlfriend and new boyfriend multiple times, leaving the couple fearing for their lives. Picture: Supplied

Butler and his other friend jumped on the bonnet of the Nissan Patrol, causing a large dent, and stole a 10-pack of Pasito soft drinks before leaving.

The couple then began packing up to leave when their attackers returned, blocking their path with their car.

It is alleged Butler and the ex-boyfriend hit the side of the Nissan Patrol, damaging the front passenger door before the group chased them through the bush.

The couple was able to escape by driving onto a remote track and made their way to Alyangula to report the attack to police.

From the attack, the girl suffered a clicking jaw, sore neck and pain to her jaw, nose and head with her partner suffering a sore face, nose, back, neck, chest and ribs, chipped teeth and bruising.

In a victim impact statement, the boyfriend said he feared for his and his partner’s lives.

“We were both alone and trapped without contact to anyone, as we were in a remote location, which is an hour from where I live,” he said.

The men were arrested later that day by police who found footage of Butler and the ex-boyfriend bragging about the incident on the ex-boyfriend’s phone.

Police also seized a crossbow, Rambo knife, two homemade machetes, a Gurkha knife, a large kitchen knife, and soft drink found inside the stolen Land Cruiser.

Butler’s friend’s ex-girlfriend and new boyfriend were camping at Wayne’s World when they were attacked by the trio. Picture: istock

Justice Judith Kelly said the trio’s actions were “totally unacceptable” and motivated by wanting to punish the couple for being together which was “not your business”.

“These are very serious violent offences. They took place in an isolated, remote location, where the victims were far from help,” she said.

“You ambushed them in the middle of the night while they were lying asleep in their swags, unable to defend themselves.

“The threats to kill were particularly serious.”

Justice Kelly acknowledged the offending was “out of character” for Butler, who had no prior criminal history and was described as a quiet, respectful and hard working young man by his community.

In a letter from Butler’s grandfather, who is the Lalara clan leader, signed by around 80 community members, the clan vouched for his character and committed to helping rehabilitate him under strict supervision.

The Lalara clan of Groote Eylandt have rallied behind Marcus Lee Butler. Picture: Supplied.

Justice Kelly also acknowledged his work as a tutor while on remand and genuine remorse for his actions.

Due to his “good prospects” of rehabilitation, Butler was given a suspended sentence of three years and six months, with an operational period of three years.