Life imprisonment
‘‘It is Jack and our families that suffer as our loving son is no longer on this world. We wish to thank the people that got to know Jack, who understood and supported him when he was going through his traumatic life.’’ – The McAllister family
The family of murdered Invercargill teen Jack McAllister are devastated following his violent death.
Detective senior sergeant Stu Harvey said the McAllister family, Jack’s primary caregivers, were devastated by the events that had unfolded during the past 18 months.
Yesterday , three people were sentenced by Justice Rachel Dunningham in the High Court in Invercargill for their involvement in McAllister’s death in June last year.
McAllister, 19, also known as Jade Fearn, had been lured near the ILT Stadium Southland with the promise of sex. He was stabbed about 11pm on June 7, 2017, and died in hospital the next day.
Brayden Whiting-Roff and Christopher Brown were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. Laura Scheepers, who had been found guilty of manslaughter after trial, was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention for her involvement.
Outside court, Harvey said the family had to deal with not only losing Jack in such a traumatic and violent manner, but the inquiry and trial that followed.
The family was concerned that a number of unsubstantiated allegations were made against Jack. A statement from the family says: ‘‘Those that harmed Jack are able to say what they wish in defence of their actions in an ability to absolve themselves from responsibility. It has been extremely difficult having to listen to the manner in which Jack’s character was portrayed. No family should have to go through that without the ability to respond.
‘‘In conclusion, there are no words that can adequately convey the impact of Jack’s death on our lives. Our heartache, with sadness and love for a young man that we were privilege to have been the primary providers of care and love of. In many ways we know he had a very tormented life and suffered from many cognitive and mental disabilities. Sadly, he is now at peace. RIP.’’
In court, Whiting-Roff’s defence lawyer, Phil Shamy, read an apology letter from his client.
The letter, to McAllister’s family, says he was ‘‘so sorry’’ McAllister had lost his life.
‘‘It wasn’t meant to end like it did. Jack’s life didn’t have to end, it wasn’t meant to either.
‘‘If I could bring back Jack, I would, If I could rewind time I would . . . I was losing myself, I was sinking into someone I am not, I am not a murderer that I am being made out to be. I am just a young man with a stuffed up life.’’
Crown lawyer Riki Donnelly described the actions of the trio as a ‘‘calculated vigilante response’’. Whiting-Roff, the principal offender, was the only person to stab McAllister and, just one month before the murder, he had been in possession of a knife in circumstances suggesting a threat to McAllister.
Whiting-Roff’s lawyer, Shamy, said Whiting-Roff had been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome disorder since the murder and as a result was easily manipulated, had difficulty processing information, drawing boundaries and foreseeing what would happen.
Justice Dunningham said Whiting-Roff’s attack on McAllister with the knife was frenzied.
Donnelly said Brown was part of a group who planned a serious assault on McAllister and foresaw murder as a probable consequence. Brown took his own knife in a car to the stadium, and although there was no evidence he took it out of the car, his actions were buying into the plan, Donnelly said.
Fiona Guy-Kidd, lawyer for Brown, said he was a real life example of the effects of early childhood neglect and abuse.
Brown had a weakness in reasoning which was critical in what transpired the day McAllister died.
Donnelly said Scheepers had previously accused McAllister of assaulting her before his death.
Donnelly agreed Scheepers had felt aggrieved by that, but McAllister had not been able to respond to the allegations, which had hurt his family.
Peter Redpath, lawyer for Scheepers, said McAllister had assaulted Scheepers, her mental health had declined, she was naive with a sheltered background, and she had not appreciated the risk of what might
happen. The Crown had asked for a prison sentence for Scheepers of 4.5 years, with a minimum non parole period of two years and three months. Redpath argued for home detention.
Justice Dunningham came to a prison sentence of two years but chose to convert it to 12 months’ home detention.
The justice said Scheepers played a significant part in enabling the offence to unfold by luring McAllister to the stadium, but her participation in the murder was minimal and she didn’t intend death to result.
Christopher Brown and Laura Scheepers were among five people who went on trial for the murder of McAllister earlier this year. Three others were found not guilty.
Harvey said ‘‘the Invercargill community has been heavily affected by this case and we are pleased the matter has now been concluded and the people involved in Jack’s death have been held accountable.
‘‘We would also like to personally thank the investigation team led by detective sergeant Sean Cairns and [detective] Scott MacKenzie and also the Crown solicitor’s office.
‘‘This has been the largest homicide investigation in the history of Southland police and the result is testament to the hard work and dedication of the investigation and prosecution teams.’’
The outcome was the consequence of a young group of people taking the law into their own hands. In the end they would be held accountable and given significant sentences, Harvey said.
He praised the work by Cairns and MacKenzie. ‘‘I have to say that the job those gentlemen did was outstanding.’’
‘‘The amount of inquires, the number of witnesses, is extreme.’’
‘‘The amount of information that had to be gathered and disseminated and analysed is at the really highest level.
‘‘It was a massive task and was a huge effort in resourcing.’’