A MAN murdered a vulnerable victim and seriously injured another in a sustained and violent attack, a court has heard. Rhys Louis Gardner, 22, returned to the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday over the 2011 killing of Michael David Williams and bashing of Shayne Anthony Waller inside a Stainforth Court unit. In sentencing submissions, Crown Prosecutor Yolanda Prenc said Gardner had been in the community for less than two months when the attacks took place. Ms Prenc said Mr Williams was heavily intoxicated, and possibly asleep, when he was stomped, kicked and/or punched to death. She said multiple shoe imprints on the dead man's face, head and body were consistent with Gardner's footwear. "It was a sustained and violent attack of the worst kind against a vulnerable victim, who, by all accounts, was sleeping or barely conscious and had a limited ability to defend himself," Ms Prenc said. Gardner and his acquaintance, Jamie Peter Smart, were jointly tried and found guilty of the attack on Mr Waller. The court heard Mr Waller had been left with ongoing memory and attention span issues and a reduced quality of life. Ms Prenc said Gardner was brazen in remaining at the complex for another drink after the bashings. Defence lawyer Greg Richardson said his client may have stayed because he was intoxicated and did not appreciate the seriousness of the situation. He said when the enormity of what happened became clear to Gardner, he became emotional and turned himself in to police. The court heard Gardner was only 18 at the time of the crimes and had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Mr Richardson said if it wasn't for Smart's presence, the attacks would not have happened. "He was just tagging along," Mr Richardson said. He said Gardner only became involved after Smart and Mr Waller started fighting, and had no real memory of what happened. The case has been adjourned until March 10.
A MAN murdered a vulnerable victim and seriously injured another in a sustained and violent attack, a court has heard.
Rhys Louis Gardner, 22, returned to the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday over the 2011 killing of Michael David Williams and bashing of Shayne Anthony Waller inside a Stainforth Court unit.
In sentencing submissions, Crown Prosecutor Yolanda Prenc said Gardner had been in the community for less than two months when the attacks took place.
Ms Prenc said Mr Williams was heavily intoxicated, and possibly asleep, when he was stomped, kicked and/or punched to death.
She said multiple shoe imprints on the dead man's face, head and body were consistent with Gardner's footwear.
"It was a sustained and violent attack of the worst kind against a vulnerable victim, who, by all accounts, was sleeping or barely conscious and had a limited ability to defend himself," Ms Prenc said.
Gardner and his acquaintance, Jamie Peter Smart, were jointly tried and found guilty of the attack on Mr Waller.
The court heard Mr Waller had been left with ongoing memory and attention span issues and a reduced quality of life.
Ms Prenc said Gardner was brazen in remaining at the complex for another drink after the bashings.
Defence lawyer Greg Richardson said his client may have stayed because he was intoxicated and did not appreciate the seriousness of the situation. He said when the enormity of what happened became clear to Gardner, he became emotional and turned himself in to police.
The court heard Gardner was only 18 at the time of the crimes and had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.
Mr Richardson said if it wasn't for Smart's presence, the attacks would not have happened.
"He was just tagging along," Mr Richardson said.
He said Gardner only became involved after Smart and Mr Waller started fighting, and had no real memory of what happened.
