Man who organised a home invasion to recover a drug debt walks free from court after his brother was stabbed to death in the attack
- Isaac David Batten, 24, organised a deadly home invasion where brother died
- Brother, Rostyn, was stabbed 35 times including in the face during the attack
- Batten pleaded guilty and was given 18-month sentence with immediate parole
Isaac David Batten has walked free from court for organising a home invasion to recover a $3400 drug debt.
But he will carry with him the pain of watching his younger brother die from 35 stab wounds after the victim fought back.
Batten, 24, his 21-year-old brother Rostyn and their friend Matthew William Strachan attended Xoannon Walker’s share house at Robertson in Brisbane’s south in April last year.
Isaac David Batten (pictured) walked free from court for organising a home invasion to recover a $3400 drug debt – that ultimately killed his 21-year-old brother Rostyn. Pictured: Batten leaving Brisbane court on Thursday
They wanted to retrieve money paid for marijuana but not supplied.
After the trio broke in through the back door, Mr Walker locked himself in his room before Rostyn attempted to kick the door down.
The door came off its hinges, prompting Mr Walker to pick up a hunting knife in his room.
He stabbed Rostyn in the face, chest and arms before Strachan hit him in the head with a bottle.
Batten gave immediate first aid to his dying brother as he bled profusely, while Strachan fled.
He and Strachan pleaded guilty to burglary with violence in company.
Batten, his brother Rostyn and their friend Matthew William Strachan broke into Xoannon Walker’s share house at Robertson in Brisbane’s south in April last year to retrieve money they claimed they never got for sold drugs
Batten (pictured) was handed a two-year jail sentence but was granted immediate parole
Batten was handed a two-year jail sentence in Brisbane District Court on Thursday but was granted immediate parole.
Strachan was given an 18-month sentence, also with immediate parole.
Batten accepted that had they not gone to the home, his brother would still be alive.
‘That is the burden that Isaac Batten will carry with him moving forward,’ defence barrister Mark McCarthy said.
‘(He) was present when his brother succumbed.’
While Mr Walker is not facing charges, Mr McCarthy labelled his actions an ‘unwarranted escalation’ of the situation.
Batten, an electrician, described Rostyn as a ‘hot-head’ and ‘f***ing unstable’ to police.
He conceded he should never have brought him to the house.
‘No doubt you feel responsible for a large part of what’s happened here,’ Judge Paul Smith said.
Batten (left) rushed to his 21-year-old brother Rostyn’s (right) aid after he was stabbed 34 times during the home invasion