Three meth users convicted over the murder of a 29-year-old drug associate who was lured to a house in Perth’s north and bashed to death, then dumped in the ocean, have been handed jail terms ranging from nine to 25 years.
Johnathan Derek Pihema, 30, was found guilty of murdering Jason Robert Edge by bashing him at a Clarkson home on Anzac Day in 2015, while Christopher Joe Moir, 23, was convicted of manslaughter for his part in the assault.
Matthew Howarth, 28, helped to destroy Mr Edge’s personal items and dispose of his body, and was found guilty of being an accessory.
WA Supreme Court Justice Lindy Jenkins sentenced Pihema on Wednesday to life behind bars, with a minimum term of 25 years, which drew cheers and applause from the public gallery.
Johnathan Derek Pihema, 30, was found guilty of murdering Jason Robert Edge (pictured) by bashing him at a Clarkson home on Anzac Day in 2015
The trial earlier this year heard Mr Edge was ambushed at the house over a $15,000 debt owed to Pihema while several other drug users
Pihema, a New Zealand citizen, may be deported after serving his sentence.
Moir was handed 12 years and Howarth received nine years, including time for drug offences.
The trial earlier this year heard Mr Edge was ambushed at the house over a $15,000 debt owed to Pihema while several other drug users, who were in another bedroom, heard shouting, screaming and thumping.
Mr Edge had been lured there by Moir’s then-partner Jodi Abbott under the pretence of a drug deal, not knowing Pihema was waiting with a shotgun, machete and tomahawk.
There was a struggle on the floor, which ended with Pihema stomping on Mr Edge’s head while Moir restrained him in a choke hold.
His body was wrapped in a tarpaulin and stored in a garden shed before being dumped at sea using a borrowed dinghy, which Howarth cleaned and returned to its owner.
Meth users convicted over the murder of a 29-year-old drug associate who was lured to house in Perth’s north and bashed to death have been handed jail terms ranging from nine to 25 years
Justice Jenkins said attack was brutal and prolonged, lasting up to 45 minutes.
“Your acts, apart from being criminal, appalling and horrific, have caused much heartbreak for Mr Edge’s friends and family,” she said.
Mr Edge’s mother Dawn sobbed as she read out her victim impact statement in court, saying drug taking was only a small part of her son’s life and was triggered by depression he suffered after being seriously injured in a horrific car crash caused by a drunk driver.
Mrs Edge said the family knew something was wrong when he didn’t come home that night but had to pressure police to act for five months as they didn’t believe the circumstances were suspicious.
That was despite Mr Edge failing to report to police several times a week, which he was required to do as he was on bail for a criminal offence.
News of his murder “literally broke” the Edge family, she said.
“We are completely heartbroken.”
She said the family was devastated they could not give him a funeral as his body was never found.
The three men “dumped him like rubbish”, Mrs Edge said, adding they displayed no emotion in court.
Abbott was in April sentenced to seven years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter.