Scott Cabrie, 47, was subject to a "harrowing experience even before he was killed" late at night in regional Queensland on February 7, 2023, Supreme Court Justice Peter Davis said on Friday in sentencing two men who were teenagers at the time.
One of the defendants, who cannot be named as he was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Cabrie as well as armed robbery in company with violence, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Co-offender Tye Wayne Porter, 20, also faced sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter as well as armed robbery, theft and arson.
Justice Davis said the murder was "particularly heinous" and sentenced the teen to 15 years in custody with an order he be released after serving nine years minus 600 days already spent on remand.
Porter was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years and will be eligible for parole in August 2029 with time served.
Speaking outside court, Mr Cabrie's best friend and fellow Uber driver Cameron Thomas said the justice system was "broken" as it would allow both killers to be released while still aged in their 20s.
Cameron Thomas said the sentences for his best friend's killers were an "absolute joke". (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
"It's frustrating. It's an absolute joke. A bloke like Scottie can be murdered in cold blood and these blokes walk in under 10 years. Surely we deserve more than this," Mr Thomas said.
Mr Cabrie's brother Ian said he had been warned not to expect a lengthy sentence for a juvenile offender.
"I guess it was a little bit higher than I expected but it's still disappointing," he said.
In sentencing, Justice Davis said the defendants had forced Mr Cabrie into the back of his Nissan X-Trail SUV at knifepoint after hiring him through the uber-ride sharing app.
"No doubt Mr Cabrie was terrified and if you had any concern for him at all you would have realised that," Justice Davis said.
Ian Cabrie said he had been warned not to expect a lengthy sentence for a juvenile offender. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Cabrie suffered seven knife wounds including a 12cm-deep stab wound to the back while he was trying to run away from the younger teen when he attacked him at a boat ramp outside Howard, about 300km north of Brisbane.
Justice Davis previously heard during submissions on sentencing the teen experienced domestic violence growing up and had been abusing alcohol and drugs since he was 12.
Porter was described by a psychiatrist as having "limited intelligence" and substance abuse disorders that left him open to suggestions to engage in criminal activity.
Justice Davis said Mr Cabrie was in a vulnerable position as a driver for hire and was "in reality an on-call victim" for the two teens who stole his phones and a necklace before killing him.
"The plan was a wicked one: to take advantage of a man just trying to earn money … that vulnerability was preyed upon," Justice Davis said.
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