'He shot him in the face': Nicole Williams organised home invasion that ended in murder

Newly public court documents shed light on how a woman organised a home invasion that resulted in the shooting of an innocent man, murdered in a case of mistaken identity.

Nicole Williams, 39, has already admitted to being part of 48-year-old Glenn Walewicz’s murder, but documents tendered to the ACT Supreme Court on Monday (5 February) share the details of her role.

She was a regular user of methamphetamine and cannabis who lived in Holt, the documents say.

A then-23-year-old called Gary Taylor had been staying over at her home, as had another man who had a Winchester .22 calibre pump-action rifle, which had been stolen in a burglary in NSW, that he would fire in her backyard about three times a week. When he left, Nicole put the gun under her bed and started trying to sell it.

In early June 2021, she asked Taylor to liaise with her son, Jayden Douglas Williams, and a 17-year-old boy about conducting a home invasion for her.

On the evening of 10 June, the 17-year-old, a 12-year-old boy, Taylor and getaway driver Reatile Ncube met up at Nicole’s home, where she told them to do a “run through” of two people’s home because they owed her money.

She told them to take any drugs or money they could find and promised to give Taylor some of the meth if they found it.

Nicole also gave the .22 pump-action rifle to the 17-year-old and told both him and Taylor that she thought that one of the intended targets had a gun and might shoot at them.

Around 11.30 pm that evening, Ncube waited in the car while Taylor and the two teenagers walked up Mansfield Place in Phillip to carry out the home invasion, but the trio went to the wrong home and ended up knocking on the door of Mr Walewicz.

He called, “Who is it?” from inside his home before one of the intruders said, “Open up”. The 17-year-old fired a gun when he opened the door, hitting him in the neck.

He died shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, the trio fled and Ncube drove them back to Nicole’s home.

The next day, Nicole messaged Jayden, making comments like, “He shot him in face son scary”.

Her texts also showed that she was trying to sell a “bang bang” in October 2021, and she told the 17-year-old over a call that, “They are coming around to have a look at it”.

In late 2021, Taylor was about to move to Baradine in NSW, but before he left, Nicole sent four men to where he had been staying in Duffy with the .22 pump-action rifle. These men threatened Taylor and told him to hide the gun.

On 6 June 2022, she asked Jayden to book her a train ticket out of the ACT because she was worried police knew about her involvement in the crime.

She also told her son she would “make one of these other kids” say Taylor and the 12-year-old were responsible for the murder.

“I’m gunna make out I don’t know a damn thing. Cause as soon as I slip up and say that I was even knowin’ any of it, I’m locked up too,” she said.

Jayden booked her a one-way train ticket, leaving Canberra on 7 June. Police arrested her at the station that morning.

Nicole, who has spent over 600 days in custody so far since her arrest, pleaded guilty to charges of accessory to murder and being knowingly concerned in an attempt to commit an aggravated burglary.

She was supposed to face a sentencing hearing on Monday, but the court heard there had been delays in preparing the case for the hearing.

Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson also spoke to Mr Walewicz’s family and supporters who were sitting in the courtroom.

“That was a tragedy that should never have happened. He was entirely innocent and he was shot in circumstances when the offenders went to the wrong address,” she said.

“Glenn should not have died. Everybody is a human being in this courtroom, and everyone recognises the pain the family is going through.”

The matter will be mentioned on 22 February to obtain another sentencing date.

Six people were arrested over Mr Walewicz’s death.

Taylor was handed over 10 years in jail while the 17-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, pleaded guilty to the murder and will face a sentencing hearing in May.

Jayden was sentenced to two years’ jail over his role, Ncube was also sentenced to two years and a charge against the 12-year-old boy was dropped.