Drug-affected driver sentenced for hitting schoolboys; sues government over arrest
Consensus Summary
A drug-affected driver named Tayler Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to hitting two schoolboys aged 14 and 15 outside St Edmundâs College in Canberra in March 2023. Hazell stole a green Commodore from a childcare centre in New South Wales, had an eight-year-old girl still inside before releasing her, and drove erratically before crashing near Manuka. Judge John Burns described Hazellâs actions as catastrophic and noted his lack of remorse, warning he posed a high risk to the community. Despite the victimsâ resilience, their families expressed relief the case was closed. Separately, Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, citing injuries sustained during his arrest by AFP officers, with bodycam footage showing him being forcibly shoved to the ground after being handcuffed. The civil case is scheduled for July 2024, while an internal AFP investigation already found the officersâ conduct breached professional standards.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tayler Hazell, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm to two schoolboys aged 14 and 15 outside St Edmund's College in March 2023
- Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years by ACT Supreme Court judge John Burns on March 28, 2024
- Hazell stole a green Commodore from a childcare centre in Sutton, NSW, and had an eight-year-old girl still inside before letting her out
- The incident occurred on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, where Hazell struck the boys while driving erratically on the median strip
- Hazell crashed the stolen car outside Manuka shops after the collision, and police later arrested him there
- Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, citing injuries to his face and blood covering his face during arrest by AFP officers
- Bodycam footage shows Hazell being forcibly shoved to the ground by AFP Tactical Response Team officers after being handcuffed
- Hazellâs civil case against the Commonwealth is expected to be heard in July 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Acting Justice Burns stated Hazellâs guilty pleas did not reflect true remorse and described him as 'in no fit state to drive' due to drugs, calling his driving 'erratic and dangerous'
- Justice Burns noted Hazell lied during court proceedings to secure shorter sentences and warned he was a 'danger to the community' with 'extremely poor' rehabilitation prospects
- Joshua Way, father of victim Aaron Way (14), praised the boys' resilience and thanked St Edmund's College principal Tim Cleary for support; calls for a signalised crossing near the school were recently approved
- Dash-cam and CCTV footage showed Hazell weaving across roads, crossing median strips, and overtaking cars at speed before the collision
- Hazellâs bodycam audio included him saying, 'I hope I havenât f***ing hurt anyone' and 'I think I hit one of those kids, man, I really think I f***ing hit one of those kids'
- The stolen car was a green Commodore taken from a childcare centre in Sutton, NSW, across the border from Canberra
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
Source Articles
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