Nicole Williams has remained in custody since 2022 over the death of Glenn Walewicz. Photo: Facebook.
A prosecutor wants the “architect” behind the home invasion that resulted in the death of Glenn Walewicz, who was murdered when gun-toting intruders went to his home by mistake in 2021, to be handed a lengthy jail sentence.
There have been multiple delays in the case against the now-40-year-old Nicole Williams since she was arrested in mid-2022, but her sentencing hearing finally continued in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday (26 February).
“She was the instigator and the architect of that whole enterprise and the tragedy that would unfold,” prosecutor Trent Hickey said.
“She was so concerned about being implicated in the offences … she was actually arrested as she was leaving town.”
Documents previously tendered to the court say in early June 2021, Williams asked then-23-year-old Gary 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 18-year-old 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 gave a .22 pump-action rifle to the 17-year-old and told him and Taylor that she thought that one of the intended targets had a gun and might shoot at them.
Glenn Walewicz was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity. Photo: ACT Policing.
That evening, Ncube waited in the car while Taylor, the 17-year-old and the boy 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 the gun when he opened the door, hitting him in the neck, and he died shortly afterwards.
“My never-ending grief is all consuming and you created this, all of this,” Mr Walewicz’s mother, Jenny Walewicz, wrote in a statement for Nicole’s sentencing hearing.
“The loss of Glenn, my son, has created a massive hole in my life.
“I was his mum, but I was also his friend.”
Mr Walewicz’s widow, Eileen Walewicz, said her heart was broken.
“I have a rage inside me that comes and goes because I’m always thinking of the whys and what-ifs,” she said.
Closed-circuit television footage captured the intruders outside Glenn Walewicz’s door on 10 June 2021, including the 17-year-old firing the fatal shot. Image: Screenshot.
During the lawyers’ submissions, defence barrister John Purnell SC argued there was no evidence that Nicole knew the gun was loaded when she gave it to the 17-year-old.
But Mr Hickey said it “beggars belief” that a person would hand an empty gun to someone ahead of a home invasion when saying the occupants of a home would shoot back.
“In my submission, she knew it was loaded at the house,” he said.
“It just defies common sense to think otherwise.”
A forensic psychiatrist, Dr Joey Le, thought Nicole had been affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, cannabis and stimulant-use disorders.
He said he asked her twice about her mental state at the time of offending, but “she said she had no recollection and did not want to remember”.
Mr Purnell said Nicole had been taking the drug ‘ice’ and cannabis at the time.
He also said in March 2021, her ex-partner wielded a machete and a knife when he broke into her house, threatened to kill her, punched her in the face and knocked out a tooth.
While the ex-partner was charged, he was found not guilty by way of mental impairment.
Psychologist Tabitha Frew thought Nicole was “living in a constant state of terror” after this attack, while at the time of the shooting, “her goal was to ascertain drugs and money”.
Justice David Mossop will sentence Nicole on Friday (28 February).
From left, Jayden Douglas Williams, Gary Taylor and Reatile Ncube all admitted their involvement in the death of Glenn Walewicz. Photos: Facebook, Albert McKnight.
Six people were arrested about a year after Mr Walewicz’s death.
Taylor, the 17-year-old, Ncube and Jayden have already been sentenced, while the charge against the 12-year-old was dropped.
In August 2023, Nicole pleaded guilty to charges of accessory to murder and being knowingly concerned in an attempt to commit an aggravated burglary.
In 2024, documents were tendered to the court outlining her role, then her sentencing hearing was delayed at least twice, and she also unsuccessfully tried to be released on bail before the court heard she didn’t agree with the facts in her case.
This caused another adjournment before her sentencing hearing finally continued on Wednesday. She has been in custody since her arrest.
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