Update:
Lionel Patea has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tara Brown.
He unexpectedly pleaded guilty to Tara’s murder earlier today.
The court heard horrific details surrounding the murder. Patea ran her off the road before bashing her in the head with a fire hydrant lid.
Witnesses first thought he was trying to rescue the young mum, 24, helping him to reach her before he started smashing her skull.
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They tried to stop him but the former bikie fought them off.
Disturbingly, Tara had managed to call Triple 0 before she was ran off the road and the operators were helpless to do anything as she was brutally bashed.
The court was told sixteen thumping sounds could be heard and then another 13 more as he smashed her with a 7.8kg slab of metal.
Tara’s mother blasted Patea as a ‘monster’ and a ‘misogynistic narcissist’ as she spoke about the impact of the murder.
Original story:
Lionel Patea has pleaded guilty to murdering 24-year-old Tara Brown.
The former Bandido bikie ran Tara off a Gold Coast road in September 2015 before bludgeoning her to death with a metal fire hydrant cover.
He used the slab weighing 7.8kg to repeatedly bash her head, causing “non-survivable” brain injuries.
Tara had just dropped her daughter Aria off at day care before the attack took place.
Her mother heartbreakingly revealed Aria now kisses a picture of her mum on her pillow every night before bed.
In court, many people had a white ribbon pinned to their clothes, campaigning to end men’s violence against women.
Patea had been expected to stand trial for one week in the Brisbane Supreme Court but changed his plea.
It’s expected he’ll be sentenced later. More as we get it.
If you or someone you know could be at risk, call the national domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT.
