Ram raider sentenced to three years' jail for daylight, knife-point robbery

Jackson Nathanial-Jai Marshall, 21, has been sentenced for an aggravated robbery. Photo: Albert McKnight.

A robber who had already committed “spectacular” ram raids, including one where he and others caused over $100,000-worth of damage to a supermarket, has been jailed for holding a knife to a man’s throat and stealing his car.

Jackson Nathanial-Jai Marshall was sentenced to three years’ jail in the ACT Supreme Court on 5 May, the day before he turned 21.

In sentencing remarks by Acting Justice Peter Berman, he said the victim had gone to Kippax shops on 27 June 2021, expecting to meet up with Marshall to collect $100 from him.

He was waiting in his father’s Ford sedan when the back door opened. Marshall got in behind him and held a knife to his throat.

Another man got in and ordered the victim to get out, which he did. This man then called two other men in a nearby Toyota Camry.

The two cars drove away after the occupants also stole the victim’s two mobile phones and wallet.

Later that same day, the victim found his mobile phones and police found the now-damaged Ford sedan in the parking garage of a block of units.

Marshall pleaded not guilty to aggravated robbery, but a jury found him guilty in February 2022, with Acting Justice Berman saying the verdict “came as no surprise”.

“[This] was a violent and frightening offence committed in broad daylight in the car park of a public shopping centre,” he said.

The victim wrote a statement for the court in which he said he now looks over his shoulder all the time, when he goes to the shops he “has to keep an eye out”, he is scared and when he is at home noises make him anxious. He also cannot afford to repair the damage to his father’s car.

Marshall broke two good behaviour orders that Acting Justice Berman said related to the burglary and damaging property offences that were committed “in a rather spectacular fashion”. The good behaviour orders were cancelled.

He had been part of two ram raids, including one in which several men in a Toyota Rav4 reversed through the roller door of an IGA store, causing over $100,000-worth of damage.

The father-of-one, who maintains his innocence to the robbery, has worked in hospitality and has been on welfare payments since leaving his last job as a bricklaying apprentice.

He was sentenced to three years’ jail ending in November 2024, with the 21-month non-parole period meaning he is eligible to be released from custody in August 2023.