A lifetime of regret: Heartbroken parents tell how son’s ‘bad decision’ cost his life
A 21-year-old stabbed during an alleged drug deal turned robbery made a bad decision that cost him his life, say his heartbroken parents.
A screen grab taken from video of Steve and Alison Swinbourne speak outside after a man accused of the murder of their son was refused bail, Brisbane Supreme Court, Brisbane, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AAP Image/Cheryl Goodenough)
William Swinbourne was robbed and fatally stabbed with a kitchen carving knife in a car park on the Gold Coast in March.
Police alleged he arrived at a Hope Island shopping centre to supply drugs to another man.
Kai Stacey Reinhardt, one of two men charged with murdering Mr Swinbourne, was denied bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.
It was a “fantastic outcome” that Reinhardt would not be out on the Gold Coast where Mr Swinbourne’s family live, parents Steve and Alison said outside court.
“He was a good kid, hard worker, (who) made a bad decision and it cost him his life,” Steve Swinbourne told reporters.
“We’ve lost a son, my daughters have lost their brother.”
Reinhardt allegedly helped plan and arrange the robbery by communicating with Mr Swinbourne to bring him to the place where he was killed, Justice Thomas Bradley said.
The crown case included a text message in which the co-accused told Reinhardt, “I”m going to do this lick” ahead of the meeting with Mr Swinbourne being arranged, the court was told.
The extent of Reinhardt’s knowledge of his co-accused’s alleged plans and beliefs about what would occur when Mr Swinbourne arrived were among the likely issues in court proceedings, Justice Bradley said in refusing bail.
“It is possible to say that on the material before the court the applicant’s involvement in the events of that day were at the least very foolish.
“And they were likely affected by the circumstances of him having been using illicit substances and licit substances over the preceding hours.”
Justice Bradley found bail conditions proposed by defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter were not sufficient to release Reinhardt from custody.
“The position of the applicant as a person charged with this very serious offence gauged against the information known to the court about him and his situation leads me to conclude the risk would remain at an unacceptable level.”
While the last few months had been tough, support from family and friends had been heartwarming, Steve Swinbourne said.
“But it’s never going to make up for losing our son, for that one mistake he made has cost him his life.”
