Former bikie Lionel Patea has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former partner Tara Brown.
Patea received the sentence this afternoon after pleading guilty earlier in the morning, with Supreme Court Justice Debra Mullins noting the severity of the crime:
“Ms Brown lost her life in your hands in a brutal way.“Ms Brown was the fatal victim of your domestic violence. She lost her life at your hands in a traumatic and brutal way.“She will not now have the joy of seeing her daughter grow up or fulfil the promise of the life that she had led until she was killed by you.”
Brown passed away from her injuries in September 2015, a day after Patea ran her off the road at Molendinar on the Gold Coast before bludgeoning her with a metal fire hydrant cover.
Witnesses told the court that they tried to stop Patea, who they initially believed to be attempting to provide aide Brown, who was trapped in the car, but to no avail. Patea turned himself into police 30 minutes after the incident took place.
In the days leading up to the attack, Brown had been living in a safe house away from the Gold Coast after having filed domestic violence orders and child custody orders against Patea.
She had returned to the Gold Coast on September 6th, to stay with a friend while looking for an apartment. Custody orders were served on Patea’s lawyer on the 7th, the day after which he called his daughter’s daycare to see if she would be attending that day. When they confirmed that she would be, Patea followed Brown’s car after she had dropped their daughter off, ultimately forcing her off the road.
Patea pleaded guilty to murder, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. A statement from Patea was read out by his lawyer to the media:
“Today I appear before the court to accept full responsibility for my actions against Tara Brown.“I do this knowing the enormous pain I have caused Tara’s family, her loved ones, and also my own family who love Tara deeply.“I accept without reservation the punishment imposed on me by the justice system today. I will also be ultimately judged by God.“I know Tara will never be forgotten, nor will I ever be forgiven. I now live only for my daughter Aria.”
Tara Brown was 24.
Source: ABC.
Photo: Facebook.
