Bashing murder is small rural town wasn't vigilantism
Roger James Kilby, 40, stole a mobile phone from Andrew John Anthoney's house after a drinking session in the small central western NSW town of Peak Hill on March 2, 2023.
Nine days later, after dancing and drinking at the local RSL, he went back to Mr Anthoney's home to confront the 57-year-old about child abuse material allegedly found on the phone.
Kilby pleaded guilty in February to committing murder after the verbal confrontation escalated into violence.
He was sentenced by the NSW Supreme Court on Monday to a maximum 18 years behind bars.
The concreter left his victim unconscious in his home and was seen by witnesses soon after swearing and screaming in a panic.
"I think I killed this matey down here," he said.
Justice Dina Yehia said Mr Anthoney had been killed by "a sustained and very violent assault involving numerous blows".
While Kilby went to the Peak Hill home over the perceived child abuse material, he had not visited as a vigilante intending to take the law into his own hands, she said.
Instead, the murder was "impulsive and unsophisticated" occurring after the verbal argument worsened.
Kilby had his sentence backdated to his March 2023 arrest when he handed himself in to local police.
He was given a non-parole period of 12 years and six months, meaning he will be eligible for release on September 11, 2035.
The judge found Kilby had shown genuine remorse for his actions and had made positive steps towards rehabilitation while in prison.
This included completing an engineering certificate, being appointed the Aboriginal delegate, leading NAIDOC events within the prison, and having his artwork displayed at an exhibition.
She said his signs of becoming a productive member of society were positive if he could continue getting treatment for his drug and alcohol addiction.
In a letter of apology to the court, the 40-year-old expressed regret and sorrow to his community and said he wanted to become a better man, the judge said.
Kilby sat emotionless wearing prison greens from a room in Bathurst prison during his sentencing.
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The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Suspended jail term for abusive former Miss Australia
A former Miss Australia and ex-politician who physically and verbally abused her husband over eight years has been given a seven-month suspended jail term. Kathryn Isobel Hay,`49, also controlled and intimidated then-partner Troy Richardson, and verbally and physically abused the couple's two children. In 1999, Hay was crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia, the first Aboriginal woman to win the award, and served in the island state's parliament as a Labor MP from 2002-06. She was found guilty in March of a single charge of emotional abuse or intimidation spanning 2014 to 2022. It was alleged Hay punched Mr Richardson in the face, threw cereal at him and frequently abused him online and in person. Mr Richardson gave evidence that Hay hit him in the face with a shoe several times while he was driving because he "just didn't do something right". He said there were threats of violence at least weekly and Hay would give him lists of things that needed to be done. "If it wasn't done properly I'd get abuse. If it was done, she'd give me another list." In a statement read to court on his behalf on Friday, Mr Richardson said he now suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety, and their children struggle with distress. Mr Richardson said he feared no one would believe him about the abuse, which left him "completely isolated". Magistrate Simon Brown found the majority of the particulars against Hay, who now lives in Sydney, had been proven. A psychologist's report found Hay had shown a complete lack of insight into her offending, prosecutor Garth Stevens told Launceston Magistrates Court. However, Hay's lawyer Marcia Edwards disputed that interpretation, saying her client accepted the court's findings and it was more "a disbelief than a denial". Hay was grappling with thoughts of "did I do this?', Ms Edwards said. "There was a fight between a husband and a wife, it was the end of a toxic marriage … and the court has taken a view of this," she said. Hay, who was at times in tears during proceedings, was given a seven-year jail term, suspended for two-and-a-half years on the condition she doesn't commit an imprisonable crime. Mr Brown said Hay's conduct was a serious example of family violence and Mr Richardson's time in the marriage would have been extraordinarily difficult. Hay, who the court was told suffers from mental health issues, did not have "genuine insight into the extent of her wrongdoing", Mr Brown said. However, he noted Hay's childhood was blighted by family violence and she was suffering genuine distress after her offending. She had lost contact with her children, was no longer able to get meaningful work and had been the subject of enormous media attention. "Her reputation is obviously in tatters," Mr Brown said. Hay is living at a women's shelter and was working on herself through free courses because she had no money, Ms Edwards said. "If she were to enter another relationship, these courses are fairly and squarely teaching you how to behave in an adult world," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A former Miss Australia and ex-politician who physically and verbally abused her husband over eight years has been given a seven-month suspended jail term. Kathryn Isobel Hay,`49, also controlled and intimidated then-partner Troy Richardson, and verbally and physically abused the couple's two children. In 1999, Hay was crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia, the first Aboriginal woman to win the award, and served in the island state's parliament as a Labor MP from 2002-06. She was found guilty in March of a single charge of emotional abuse or intimidation spanning 2014 to 2022. It was alleged Hay punched Mr Richardson in the face, threw cereal at him and frequently abused him online and in person. Mr Richardson gave evidence that Hay hit him in the face with a shoe several times while he was driving because he "just didn't do something right". He said there were threats of violence at least weekly and Hay would give him lists of things that needed to be done. "If it wasn't done properly I'd get abuse. If it was done, she'd give me another list." In a statement read to court on his behalf on Friday, Mr Richardson said he now suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety, and their children struggle with distress. Mr Richardson said he feared no one would believe him about the abuse, which left him "completely isolated". Magistrate Simon Brown found the majority of the particulars against Hay, who now lives in Sydney, had been proven. A psychologist's report found Hay had shown a complete lack of insight into her offending, prosecutor Garth Stevens told Launceston Magistrates Court. However, Hay's lawyer Marcia Edwards disputed that interpretation, saying her client accepted the court's findings and it was more "a disbelief than a denial". Hay was grappling with thoughts of "did I do this?', Ms Edwards said. "There was a fight between a husband and a wife, it was the end of a toxic marriage … and the court has taken a view of this," she said. Hay, who was at times in tears during proceedings, was given a seven-year jail term, suspended for two-and-a-half years on the condition she doesn't commit an imprisonable crime. Mr Brown said Hay's conduct was a serious example of family violence and Mr Richardson's time in the marriage would have been extraordinarily difficult. Hay, who the court was told suffers from mental health issues, did not have "genuine insight into the extent of her wrongdoing", Mr Brown said. However, he noted Hay's childhood was blighted by family violence and she was suffering genuine distress after her offending. She had lost contact with her children, was no longer able to get meaningful work and had been the subject of enormous media attention. "Her reputation is obviously in tatters," Mr Brown said. Hay is living at a women's shelter and was working on herself through free courses because she had no money, Ms Edwards said. "If she were to enter another relationship, these courses are fairly and squarely teaching you how to behave in an adult world," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A former Miss Australia and ex-politician who physically and verbally abused her husband over eight years has been given a seven-month suspended jail term. Kathryn Isobel Hay,`49, also controlled and intimidated then-partner Troy Richardson, and verbally and physically abused the couple's two children. In 1999, Hay was crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia, the first Aboriginal woman to win the award, and served in the island state's parliament as a Labor MP from 2002-06. She was found guilty in March of a single charge of emotional abuse or intimidation spanning 2014 to 2022. It was alleged Hay punched Mr Richardson in the face, threw cereal at him and frequently abused him online and in person. Mr Richardson gave evidence that Hay hit him in the face with a shoe several times while he was driving because he "just didn't do something right". He said there were threats of violence at least weekly and Hay would give him lists of things that needed to be done. "If it wasn't done properly I'd get abuse. If it was done, she'd give me another list." In a statement read to court on his behalf on Friday, Mr Richardson said he now suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety, and their children struggle with distress. Mr Richardson said he feared no one would believe him about the abuse, which left him "completely isolated". Magistrate Simon Brown found the majority of the particulars against Hay, who now lives in Sydney, had been proven. A psychologist's report found Hay had shown a complete lack of insight into her offending, prosecutor Garth Stevens told Launceston Magistrates Court. However, Hay's lawyer Marcia Edwards disputed that interpretation, saying her client accepted the court's findings and it was more "a disbelief than a denial". Hay was grappling with thoughts of "did I do this?', Ms Edwards said. "There was a fight between a husband and a wife, it was the end of a toxic marriage … and the court has taken a view of this," she said. Hay, who was at times in tears during proceedings, was given a seven-year jail term, suspended for two-and-a-half years on the condition she doesn't commit an imprisonable crime. Mr Brown said Hay's conduct was a serious example of family violence and Mr Richardson's time in the marriage would have been extraordinarily difficult. Hay, who the court was told suffers from mental health issues, did not have "genuine insight into the extent of her wrongdoing", Mr Brown said. However, he noted Hay's childhood was blighted by family violence and she was suffering genuine distress after her offending. She had lost contact with her children, was no longer able to get meaningful work and had been the subject of enormous media attention. "Her reputation is obviously in tatters," Mr Brown said. Hay is living at a women's shelter and was working on herself through free courses because she had no money, Ms Edwards said. "If she were to enter another relationship, these courses are fairly and squarely teaching you how to behave in an adult world," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A former Miss Australia and ex-politician who physically and verbally abused her husband over eight years has been given a seven-month suspended jail term. Kathryn Isobel Hay,`49, also controlled and intimidated then-partner Troy Richardson, and verbally and physically abused the couple's two children. In 1999, Hay was crowned Miss Tasmania and Miss Australia, the first Aboriginal woman to win the award, and served in the island state's parliament as a Labor MP from 2002-06. She was found guilty in March of a single charge of emotional abuse or intimidation spanning 2014 to 2022. It was alleged Hay punched Mr Richardson in the face, threw cereal at him and frequently abused him online and in person. 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However, Hay's lawyer Marcia Edwards disputed that interpretation, saying her client accepted the court's findings and it was more "a disbelief than a denial". Hay was grappling with thoughts of "did I do this?', Ms Edwards said. "There was a fight between a husband and a wife, it was the end of a toxic marriage … and the court has taken a view of this," she said. Hay, who was at times in tears during proceedings, was given a seven-year jail term, suspended for two-and-a-half years on the condition she doesn't commit an imprisonable crime. Mr Brown said Hay's conduct was a serious example of family violence and Mr Richardson's time in the marriage would have been extraordinarily difficult. Hay, who the court was told suffers from mental health issues, did not have "genuine insight into the extent of her wrongdoing", Mr Brown said. However, he noted Hay's childhood was blighted by family violence and she was suffering genuine distress after her offending. She had lost contact with her children, was no longer able to get meaningful work and had been the subject of enormous media attention. "Her reputation is obviously in tatters," Mr Brown said. Hay is living at a women's shelter and was working on herself through free courses because she had no money, Ms Edwards said. "If she were to enter another relationship, these courses are fairly and squarely teaching you how to behave in an adult world," she said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
ABC News
a day ago
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NT chief minister flags capping coronial spends after Walker inquest cost revealed
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Councils accuse territory government of overt racism
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They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd". A territory government has been accused of overt racism and promoting policies that harm Indigenous people. Aboriginal land councils have taken aim at the Northern Territory government, saying it has failed to work with them to reduce crime and boost economic development. But NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington has refuted the claims, saying the government was working towards empowering Indigenous communities. After a two-day meeting in Darwin, the four NT land councils have urged the Country Liberal Party government to stop ignoring them and come to the table to address key issues. They include growing Indigenous incarceration rates and improved economic opportunities to benefit Aboriginal communities. Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan told reporters outside the NT parliament on Thursday there was overt racism in government policies. "Let me be very honest - there is, no buts about it," he said. "Unfortunately, it's still happening. We want to eliminate that, we want a genuine partnership ... at the moment there's none." He said Aboriginal people wanted to be part of the territory's economic development but it was "appalling" government ministers were failing to work with or listen to the land councils to promote that. Since coming to power on an anti-crime platform in 2024, the government has toughened bail laws and provided hundreds of new prison beds as more Aboriginal youths are locked up. It has also lowered the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years. Mr Ryan said the law and order funding would be better spent on providing programs to keep Aboriginal youths out of jail. He said the land councils were also united in wanting to work with the NT police commissioner to address racism within the force. Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said racism against Aboriginal people began when the ships arrived in 1788 "but we're still standing here today". "If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn't be stacking and racking in our prisons," she said. Ms Shaw said the government should listen to the elders to take children back onto Country to be with family and keep them out of jail. Mr Edgington said the government was working with the four land councils and other Indigenous bodies on Closing the Gap initiatives. "We are also working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say," he said. Mr Edgington said the NT and federal governments were making major investments in remote communities including building new homes and boosting health and other critical services. However, an Aboriginal justice agency has called for federal funding for remote policing and other justice operations to be suspended until the NT government changes its hardline approach to crime. North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency acting CEO Anthony Beven said the Commonwealth should put conditions on the table to say "we shouldn't be locking young kids up". NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said Mr Beven's funding suspension demand was "utterly absurd".
