Teen killer stuck in 'violent world'

[Tom]

THE NSW Supreme Court was today told during a sentencing hearing of the trauma Darren Ward suffered since he being shot in the face by a teenager who murdered his best friend, Sydney footballer Kane Mason.

 

The flatmates, who played rugby league together in Manly's first division, were attacked during a street fight in Mr Ward's hometown of Macksville, on the NSW mid-north coast, in July 2003.

 

The gunman, who was under 18 at the time of the murder and cannot be named.

 

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Ward said he and Mr Mason were "walking casually down a quiet street, minding our own business" when violence broke out.

 

Mr Ward was shot in the face while Mr Mason, 24, was blasted in the chest with a shotgun at point-blank range.

 

"Losing the sight of my right eye for approximately six months, having teeth shot clean out of my mouth and being left for the rest of my life with shotgun pellets in my neck, throat, mouth, eye socket, skull and brain are part of the physical trauma I have to deal with," Mr Ward said.

 

The loss of his friend brought a different kind of pain.

 

"Kane was a champion, not just as a sportsman but as a man," Mr Ward said.

 

"Losing a friend so suddenly, tragically and for no reason whatsoever is something I can never forget."

 

Now aged 18, the gunman hung his head in the dock throughout the hearing.

 

The father of one had pleaded guilty to Mr Mason's murder and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Ward.

 

The court heard he and his older co-offender, Michael Douglas Clifford – convicted by a jury of manslaughter – had been smoking cannabis and drinking before heading onto Macksville's streets with a loaded shotgun.

 

But the teen's barrister, Linda McSpedden, said the shooting was "tragic and wild and random", rather than premeditated.

 

She asked Justice Michael Adams to take into account her client's troubled background when sentencing, saying he starting smoking cannabis at eight, was expelled from school at 10 and began drinking alcohol at 11.

 

He was 12 when his mother abandoned the family, and he embarked on a "diabolical path of self-destruction and potential destruction of others".

 

"The offender is a product of a quite depraved subculture and these are the factors that led him into these offences at the age of 17 years and two months," Ms McSpedden said.

 

"He's enmeshed in a culture of violence."

 

Ms McSpedden said her client was remorseful, had never denied his role in the shootings and had good prospects for rehabilitation.

 

He will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.

 

Author:Kim Arlington

Date:April 19, 2005

Source:AAP

Copyright:Copyright 2005 Nationwide News

 

[aussie1]

ALCOHOL!!! That's why the world is fucked! I've been around long enough, I have seen enough, and experienced enough to know that alcohol is the scourge of mankind. How many times have I been blind drunk can't remember the events of the night before, say horrible things, get into fights, drink drive,HEAPS when I was young because you just don't give a fuck when your plastered. On the other hand I want even get in a car when I am stoned, even if my mother was driving. And I am too busy chillin' out and enjoying life when I am stoned to even think about blueing with anyone. And this shit is available on every street corner.

And when you mix the 2 together to excess that's just asking for trouble.

[Shivan]

But blameing alcohol is just like blameing pot. The problem is excess. I weigh from 90-100 kilos and used to be a heavy drinker but have only once had a bit of a blackout drinking and decided not to go that far again, i didnt stop drinking or drinking hard i just knew when to draw a line. Tho alot of my friends went overboard and then blamed the grog rather than their consumption of it. Iam sorry but i believe everyone has a choice, this choice may be affected by our environment but we are still the ones who choose to do or not to do.

Just my 2 cents.

[SoDrysBro]

lil prick should be hung up and shot premediatated or not you can get drunk and smashed then roam around with a loaded gun and say its not premeditated what ever, the gun was just for protection everyniight was it ? bunch of lil tossers hope they get pimped in jail and killed in there then...

[quizywig]

i think they need to stop finding something to "blame" alcohol, pot, bad upbringing, its all BS to me, its about being resposible for your actions, to many people get off light for serious crimes against often inocent people buy blaming it on BS,

[indooraussie]

he had a choice when he decided to pull the trigger.blame what ever they like just dont blame the person.like the young offenders act.they are too young to know right from wrong up to 10 ,12 or 15 whatever it is.yeh right i knew for as long as i remember what would get me a flogging and what would not.isnt this the difference between right and wrong.fact is without achohol and cannabis he would of still made the wrong choice and pulled the trigger.alcohol would have to be the most used excuse for getting oneself out of shit or to stop embarresment."I DIDNT KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING I WAS DRUNK".

[WantDaChronic]

blaming your actions on a substance you knowingly took is plain stupid...you have taken the substance and should be responsible for your actions regardless of wether you were blind drunk, stoned or what ever....

 

MIND ALTERING SUBSTANCES BRING OUT THE INNER PERSON ! THEY DO NOT TURN US INTO KILLERS :angry: