A woman involved in a fatal shooting at a rural property south of Brisbxjmtzywane sent messages to her co-accused after the incident, thanking them for their involvement and telling them she “appreciated” what they did.
Emma Louise Hinds’ shocking texts were revealed at Brisbane Supreme Court as the 45-year-old learned her fate for her role in the botched robbery of a Queensland couple three years ago.
She had pleaded guilty to a single charge of manslaughter earlier this year.
Hinds showed little emotion as the court was told of how she and a group of others travelled to a property in Karawatha, south of Brisbane, in the early hours of February 9, 2019.
Megan Kirley, 40, and her partner Pieter Pickering were living in a shipping container on the property and were asleep at the time.
Crown prosecutor Dejana Kovac said the group intended to rob the pair of money and drugs.
She said one man, Cameron Lindsay Witoko, was carrying a meat cleaver while Stafford Emmerson was carrying a rifle.
Hinds was not aware of the firearm when they arrived at the property, the court heard.
When Hinds and the group “circled” the container, Mr Pickering armed himself with a pair of homemade nunchakus.
He swung them towards the door when the firearm went off “simultaneously”.
Ms Kirley was hit in the back of the neck.
“The killing of the deceased has left a devastating effect on the family,” Ms Kovac told the court.
“She (Hinds) is to be sentenced on the basis she also knew that one of the remaining accused was armed with an implement.”
The group fled with Mr Pickering in pursuit.
The day after the shooting, Hinds sent a message to the others saying: “Thanks for last night boys, I really appreciate it hey”.
Justice Peter Davies said Hinds was liable for the manslaughter of Ms Kirley, as she formed a “common intention” where an “unintentional, unlawful killing was a probable consequence”.
The court was told no one in the group realised Kirley had been fatally injured.
Justice Davies ultimately sentenced Hinds to nine years’ jail.
She will be eligible for parole after serving four and a half years.
Damian Walsh, Hinds’ defence barrister, said his client had longstanding issues with drug addiction, which was the genesis for the offending.
He said Hinds was remorseful, helping assist police with the arrest of one of her co-accused following Ms Kirley’s death.
Witoko and another man, Kobi Daniel Oram, were in January jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Two men are due to stand trial on charges of murder later this year.
