Samurai sword killer could spend less than three years in jail after being sentenced over slaying of aspiring rapper during botched robbery
- Blake Davis sentenced to a maximum of five years and three months in prison
- Found not guilty of murdering aspiring rapper Jett McKee with a samurai sword
- But guilty of his manslaughter outside Davis’ Forest Lodge unit in August 2018
Samurai sword killer Blake Davis has been sentenced to almost three years in jail for the manslaughter of an aspiring rapper on a leafy Sydney street.
He was found not guilty of murdering Jett McKee with a samurai sword, but guilty of his manslaughter.
Davis was on Tuesday given a maximum prison sentence of five years and three months over Mr McKee’s death.
He will be eligible for parole after serving two years and nine months in jail.
Mr McKee was struck in the head with the sword after fleeing Davis’ Forest Lodge unit in the inner-city on August 10, 2018.
Blake Davis (right) pictured with his girlfriend Hannah Quinn. He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for the manslaughter of aspiring rapper Jett McKee in August 2018
Davis, 31, popped the question to his school teacher girlfriend Hannah Quinn in October last year, right before their trial started
The sentencing comes after it emerged Davis, 31, popped the question to his school teacher girlfriend in October last year, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Davis’ girlfriend Hannah Quinn, 26, was convicted of being an accessory after the fact to Mr McKee’s manslaughter.
The pair shared a passionate kiss outside of court after being permitted to remain on bail while they wait to be sentenced.
The pair shared a passionate kiss outside of court after being permitted to remain on bail
Davis fatally struck Jett McKee (pictured) in the head with a samurai sword after the ice-fuelled intruder fled his Forest Lodge unit
The 11-person NSW Supreme Court jury retired to consider its verdict on Monday December 21 and returned on Tuesday afternoon a guilty manslaughter verdict for Davis, deeming he had not acted in self-defence.
However, the jury deemed Davis was not guilty of murder.
Crown prosecutor Chris Taylor in Davis and Quinn’s trial described the sword attack as senseless, unnecessary and unlawful.
He contended Davis had not been acting in self-defence or defence of Quinn, noting the pair had chased the balaclava-clad Mr McKee about 80 metres down the street after he left their unit.
Quinn had caught up with Mr McKee and pulled him to the ground, with Davis striking the fatal blow while Mr McKee was on his hands and knees. The blow with the samurai sword sliced Mr McKee’s head open.
Davis in the trial gave evidence about his belief the intruder had shot him, and his belief that his girlfriend’s life was in danger.
But the Crown contended that no witnesses saw the 30-year-old Mr McKee pointing a gun at Quinn before he was struck with the sword, as professed by Quinn.
Quinn was then heard to say ‘what the f*** have you done?’ by witnesses after Davis’ strike on Mr McKee.
Davis was in possession of the samurai sword – a legal weapon – as it was a gift from his brother on his 18th birthday.
Justice Natalie Adams permitted Davis to remain on bail after December’s verdict, with strict conditions attached, while the sentencing process takes place. Quinn will also remain on bail.
The matter will return to court at a later date.
The bloody scene in August, 2018 after McKee was killed with a samurai sword
Davis was in possession of the samurai sword (pictured) – a legal weapon – as it was a gift from his brother on his 18th birthday