Long sentence for young siege gunman: Court hears of ‘terrified’ residents and ‘extreme danger’

Police and community members still suffer the mental effects of a terrifying 17-hour siege that locked down a quiet Tasmanian suburb. The gunman today found out how long he will be in jail.

THE young gunman who shot a woman and locked down a Northern Tasmanian suburb in a 17 hour siege has been handed an eight year prison sentence for his crimes.

Brett Julian Robinson-Stacey, 25, on Tuesday pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of aggravated assault, recklessly discharging a firearm 35 times, two counts of injuring property by shooting a police car and another car and one count of assaulting police by shooting towards an officer.

On Wednesday he was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston via video link from Risdon Prison.

In passing sentence, Justice Robert Pearce said the events of December 5, 7 and 8, 2018 put police and members of the public in “extreme danger”.

The court heard the defendant was at a house at New World Avenue in Trevallyn on December 5 when he shot 47-year-old Robyn Lee Brown.

He and the tenant, Nomi Lea Mountney, her two teenage children and two other people had just arrived at the property to find Ms Brown had broken in and was stealing property.

“Ms Brown thought she had been cheated out of $150 in a drug transaction,” Justice Pearce said.

Ms Brown started fighting with Ms Mountney and “Ms Mountney called for [Robinson-Stacey’s] help”.

He fired two warning shots in the direction of Ms Brown from a sawn-off rifle .

One went through a door frame and the other hit Ms Brown in the upper left thigh.

Tasmania Police outside the home involved at New World Avenue Trevallyn. Siege in Launceston suburb Trevallyn involving Tasmania Police. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

READ MORE:

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• Two in custody after ‘tactical resolution’ used to bring Launceston siege to an end
• Two in custody after Launceston siege during which several gunshots were fired at police

The court heard Robinson-Stacey said “stop screaming or I’ll shoot you again” before picking up the two spent shell casings and leaving the house.

Ms Brown was taken to hospital by ambulance and required surgery to reinforce her fractured femur with a metal rod.

Justice Pearce said Robinson-Stacey was entitled to use some force to defend Mountney and remove Ms Brown from the home.

“Shooting her in the leg was a completely excessive and unjustified response, carried out in the presence of teenagers.

“You intended to scare Ms Brown, not cause her serious injury, but you realised the risk that you may do so and fired the gun twice anyway.

“I do not see the level of culpability as much less than if you had intentionally shot her.”

Siege in Launceston suburb Trevallyn involving Tasmania Police. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

Police arrived at Ms Mountney’s address in numbers two days later after receiving reports of a man walking the street with a firearm in a sports bag.

Four detectives went to the front door, knocked and called out to the defendant.

“Police concern about what might happen was immediately justified,” Justice Pearce said.

They heard a gunshot from within the home and Robinson-Stacey said; “f*** off”.

“Fearing they may be shot, they all quickly retreated to shelter behind vehicles parked on the street.”

“Detective Bolton asked you to throw the gun out but was met only with the sound of more shots being fired.”

Justice Pearce said Robinson-Stacey fired bullets from the front, rear and northern sides of the house which “terrified” nearby residents.

Shots were fired towards the home of “frightened and distressed” 76-year-old neighbour endricka Showell who was found by a young constable “hiding at the back of the house as far as she could get from the gun fire”.

Siege in Launceston suburb Trevallyn involving Tasmania Police. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

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One bullet hit her roof and another hit her car near the petrol cap.

About 9.30am, a Special Operations Group stormed Ms Mountney’s house and arrested the gunman after he threatened to shoot Ms Mountney.

They found Ms Mountney inside in a “highly distressed state”.

The court heard Robinson-Stacey attempted to bite one officer who tried to restrain him and continued to kick and struggle after he was handcuffed.

Justice Pearce said Robinson-Stacey only stopped resisting once he was tasered.

Justice Pearce said the Special Operations Group was to be “highly commended” for ending the siege without harm to the gunman or themselves.

The court heard officers with varying degrees of experience and community members suffered ongoing effects of exposure to the traumatic event.

“One of the officers who went to the door has described how he immediately feared for the life of his colleagues, and has a particular and lasting memory of the fear he experienced throughout the incident.

“The young officer you fired towards experienced a significant psychological impact which affected his work and his personal relationships, which continue even now, more than a year later, and are likely to continue further.”

Some of the residents, including Mrs Showell and others, have described the fear and distress they experienced at the time and afterwards as a result of your acts.

Justice Pearce convicted Robinson-Stacey on each count and sentenced him to eight years imprisonment.

Robinson-Stacey will be able to apply for parole in five years.