Jail for aiding killing
A MAN has been sentenced over the “brutal” killing of Rodney Kayne Ferrar at Townsville’s Sturt Lodge.
Richard Gordon Maxwell Swan was sentenced to nine years’ jail when he faced Townsville Supreme Court yesterday for his role as a lookout, which contributed to the death of Mr Ferrar (also known as Stokes).
Swan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a three-day trial earlier this month.
Justice David Boddice said Swan held a hat over a security camera and acted as a lookout while another man killed Mr Ferrar.
“The killing of the deceased was brutal, it would have involved significant violence,” Judge Boddice said.
“The jury were not satisfied that you knew that person intended on killing the deceased.”
The court heard Mr Ferrar was struck in the head with a plank of wood, dying from the trauma on August 2, 2016.
His mother Anita Stokes’s victim impact statement was read out in court.
She spoke of the horror her family experienced the night they learned of Rodney’s tragic fate.
“My greatest concern was did my son suffer,” Ms Stokes wrote.
“The fact that his life was taken by another person …
“It’s very sad when you wished your child would have suffered a heart attack or been killed in a car crash as that would be a better alternative than the way he did die.”
Ms Stokes said she was in the depths of despair after her son’s killing and feared for own life, stating “if it happened to my son it could happen to anyone”.
Defence barrister Ted Bassett said his client had little understanding of why he participated in the killing of Mr Ferrar.
“He is unable to give any reasonable explanation, or any explanation at all, for why this happened, why he played the part he did.
“In my respectful submission, it seems pretty clear that alcohol played some part in that.”
He said Swan, 28, had led a troubled life.
“When he was born his mother was homeless and an alcoholic,” Mr Bassett said.
“He suffered from foetal alcohol disorder, ADHD, epilepsy (and other medical conditions).”
The court heard Swan had a four-year-old son who he intended to be involved with once he was released from prison.
Judge Boddice took into consideration the significant amount of pre-sentence custody, some three years behind bars, when considering Swan’s parole eligibility date.
A conviction was recorded and Swan will be eligible for parole in February 2020.