Rebels bikie gets 22-year sentence for 'cruel, vicious' murder of a man who intervened to protect

Rebels bikie gets 22-year sentence for 'cruel, vicious' murder of a man who intervened to protect his friend from a 'group of thugs' collecting drug debts

• A bikie has been sentenced to life in prison with a 22 year non-parole period   
• 35-year-old Mikel Higgins was found guilty by jury for the murder of Ben Gravett
• He stabbed Mr Gravett 11 times including three wounds to the head and neck 
• The victim tried to protect a friend from the gang who were drug-debt collectors

A bikie has been sentenced to life in prison for the 'vicious, cruel and unnecessary' murder of a man who tried to intervene during a drug-debt collection.

Rebels gang member Mikel Higgins from Adelaide (link is external), was sentenced on Thursday at the Supreme Court of South Australia, after he was found guilty by a jury for the murder of Ben Gravett.

The 35-year-old stabbed Mr Gravett 11 times after he stepped in to try and protect a friend from the 'group of thugs' out collecting drug debts at an apartment block in Christie Downs in southern Adelaide in December 2016.

Higgins was given the life sentence with a non-parole period of 22 years, as Justice Nicholson noted he had 'poor' prospects of being rehabilitated.

A second man, 23-year-old Jesse Hunt, was handed a eight-year sentence, with a six year and 10-month non-parole period, after he was found guilty of Mr Gravett's manslaughter.

At the time, Higgins led what the judge called a 'group of thugs', including some members who were armed, through the southern suburbs.

The court heard Higgins' group had already forced their way into another house before they arrived at the block of flats.

Once the group arrived in the vicinity, they bypassed a group of friends, including Mr Gravett, and barged into a flat uninvited, but the man they were looking for was not there.

Justice Nicholson said the other people at the flats were 'instantly cowered into submission'.
'All, that is, except one man,' the judge said.

When the thugs appeared to approach a woman, Mr Gravett came to her defence and struck Higgins on the back of the head with a metal pole.

In retaliation, Higgins directed his group to chase Mr Gravett until he was eventually caught and punched by Hunt.

Higgins then used a kitchen knife to stab him 11 times, with some wounds to the head and neck, leaving Mr Gravett to bleed to death at the scene.

Handing down the sentence, Supreme Court Justice Kevin Nicholson said Higgins had relied on the violent reputation of outlaw motorcycle gangs, and back-up from his 'group of thugs' on the night of Mr Gravett's death.
'It is common knowledge that many many members of outlaw motorcycle gangs see themselves as operating outside the law,' Justice Nicholson said.

Justice Nicholson added that Higgins had behaved in a 'frighteningly aggressive manner' on the night of the attack.
'The vicious, cruel and totally unnecessary killing of Ben Gravett that night has brought upon family members and friends a world of pain and anguish,' he said.

Taking into account time already served, Hunt will be eligible for parole in 2023 and Higgins in 2039.

A third man, Korii Gebhardt, also faced trial over the murder but was acquitted by the jury of all charges.

(File picture) Justice Nicholson added that Higgins had behaved in a 'frighteningly aggressive manner' on the night of the attack


Australia - BNN.