Qld: Teenager jailed after cutting drug maker s fingers off

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2001
Qld: Teenager jailed after cutting drug maker s fingers off

By Suzanne Klotz

BRISBANE, April 20 AAP - A teenager who slashed a drug manufacturer's throat and cut
off his fingers, because he thought he had double crossed his uncle, was jailed for 12
years today.

Tony Kristen Anderson, 18, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Brisbane to attempting
to murder David Mark Ware at Ipswich on June 18, 1999.

The court was told Ware, 48, was an amphetamine manufacturer who had been employed
by Anderson's uncle in May 1999 to make a batch of drugs which was to be funded with $5,000
borrowed from motorcycle gang, the Vagabonds.

Prosecutor David Meredith said the money was somehow misused or ran out without any
drugs being produced.

Anderson and four others collected Ware from the Gold Coast unit he was staying at
in the early hours of June 18, on the pretext of going to sell guns.

Once in the car, and on the way to Ipswich, Anderson told Ware he intended to kill
him as a birthday present, Mr Meredith told the court.

Anderson turned 17 on that day.

The court was told Anderson ordered that Ware's hands be tied together with gaffer
tape and when they arrived at bushland at Bellbird Park, in Ipswich, his mouth and eyes
were also taped.

Anderson then took him deep into the bush, made him lie down on his back and slashed
his throat from right to left, severing the jugular vein.

Ware feigned death and then Anderson announced to the others that they had to cut some
of Ware's fingers off to prove they had taken retribution against Ware.

They eventually chopped off two fingers with a knife after about 10 attempts, Mr Meredith
told the court.

All the while Ware still faked death.

Once they had left the scene, Ware stumbled out of the bush and to a nearby home, where
he got help.

Justice Martin Moynihan described the attack as "appalling" and "cold-blooded".

He said it appeared the attack was to stop Ware from speaking to police or to placate
the bikie gang which was still owed the $5,000 loan and interest.

Anderson was sentenced to 12 years' jail, and was declared a serious violent offender
which means he will have to serve more than nine years in jail before being eligible to
apply for parole.

AAP smk/jhm/cd/de

KEYWORD: ANDERSON

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