Trio sentenced over ‘brutal’ attack

Alderton pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, making a threat to kill, using a firearm while a prohibited person, possessing a firearm while a prohibited person and possessing cannabis, as well as summary charges of trespassing, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cartridge ammunition without a licence and failing to stop on police direction.

Hastie pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, burglary and criminal damage.

Alderton-Hastie pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, and a summary charge of trespassing.

The court heard the trio attacked Hastie’s ex-partner at a Wyuna house.

Alderton pointed a single-barrel shotgun at the victim before hitting him in the face multiple times with the butt and muzzle of the gun.

The man fell to the ground and the trio kicked and punched him in the head while he was there.

The court heard the victim was assaulted for about 30 minutes, in an attack that left him unconscious.

Alderton and Alderton-Hastie both filmed parts of the attack.

A video played to the court, that was filmed by Alderton, showed Alderton as he struck the victim with the gun and threatened to kill him, while Alderton-Hastie stomped on his head.

Alderton also threatened to “put a shell in his head” as he held the gun’s muzzle to the man’s head.

During the assault, Alderton also fired the gun into the ground near the victim.

As part of the attack, the victim also had spray-paint sprayed in his mouth and over his face by Alderton-Hastie.

After the initial parts of the attack, Hastie left the other two and went into the house where she smashed windows and a television.

Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis described the attack as “cowardly, frightening and brutal”, and noted the victim was hospitalised after it and still had ongoing physical and emotional scars.

While sentencing the trio in court, Judge Karapanagiotidis said the use of the gun by Alderton was “terrifying” and increased the gravity of his offending over the other two.

She spoke of how Alderton had started using drugs from the age of 14, but had stayed sober for several years while in a relationship.

When that relationship broke down he started using drugs again, including a “substantial amount” of methamphetamines daily.

She also spoke of a “limited but relevant” court history that included violence and drugs.

Judge Karapanagiotidis told of Alderton-Hastie’s younger years that were marred by frequent violence and abuse, including seeing his mum assaulted, and said that his part in this offending was “coloured” by his past.

“As a child you were not protected from harm and you were impacted,” she said.

She also took into account his young age — he was 18 at the time of the attack.

Alderton-Hastie was affected by drugs at the time of the Wyuna attack, and the court heard he had started using drugs at the age of 12.

Judge Karapanagiotidis spoke of Hastie’s relationships that had been marred by violence, as well as how she had been alcohol-affected at the time of the attack.

She also noted the history of the relationship between Hastie and the victim, but said it did not justify the attack.

Alderton was sentenced to three years in prison, with a non-parole period of 21 months.

The 440 days in pre-sentence detention will count as time already served.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Alderton-Hastie was sentenced to 440 days in prison — which has already been served in pre-sentence detention — as well as a 16-month community corrections order, which will include treatment for drug abuse, alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

Hastie was sentenced to 137 days in prison — which was served in pre-sentence detention — as well as an 18-month community corrections order.

Her order includes treatment for drug abuse, alcohol abuse and mental health issues, and 120 hours of community work, which can be used receiving treatment for her issues.