Teenagers get lengthy jail terms after killing of Northern Territory pool manager

Two teenagers have been sentenced to jail for killing and robbing Yuendumu swimming pool manager Rick Berry, who was working at a remote Aboriginal community at the time of his death.

After pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated robbery, Nelson Inkamala, aged 19, has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of six years and three months.

His co-accused Jason Reid, aged 18, was sentenced to 11-and-half years' jail with a non-parole period of five years and nine months.

53-year-old Berry had been managing the swimming pool at Yuendumu, about 300 kilometres north west of Alice Springs, for the Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation.

His body was discovered in the bathroom of his home in the community in January 2015 after he failed to show up to work, and his burnt-out car was found on the edge of the Tanami Desert.

The Northern Territory Supreme Court in Alice Springs heard that the pair entered Berry's home on during the early hours on 29th January with the intention of stealing alcohol when they realised the victim was awake.

Reid was armed with a shovel and struck Berry from behind, the court was told.

A struggle ensued, with Reid attempting to tie Berry's hands with an electrical cord.

Inkamala struck Berry to the nose and upper lip with a wooden stake.

They then ransacked the house, stealing items, alcohol and car keys, before unsuccessfully trying to burn the house down.

The Court heard Inkamala and Reid stole Berry's car, driving it some distance before ditching it and setting it alight on the side of the road, then hitchhiking into Alice Springs.

Berry had given Reid part-time job

Justice Graham Hiley in the Northern Territory Supreme Court said Reid's offending was particularly serious because Berry had looked after him and had given him a part-time job.

Justice Hiley stated “because you lived at his house and you had access to the house, he trusted you, and you took a shovel and delivered the first blow ... you put him in a vulnerable position."

Justice Hiley took into account Reid's "poor and violent upbringing" and that he was a youth at the time of the offence.

In sentencing Inkamala Justice Hiley said a sentence strong enough to deter the defendant from continuing to commit crimes was needed.

Inkamala's relative youth, the amount of time he had already spent in custody and his guilty plea were also considered by Justice Hiley.

During the case, Berry’s sister described the pair "vile, brutal psychopaths that should be locked up forever.”

The Court heard in the days leading up to the attack there were several incidents between Reid and Berry, including Reid threatening him with a knife.

Image: Rick Berry, courtesy Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation.

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