Drug-affected driver sues Commonwealth after hitting schoolboys; sentenced to 13 years jail
Consensus Summary
Tayler Hazell, a 32-year-old drug-affected driver, was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison for hitting two schoolboys (aged 14 and 15) outside St Edmundâs College in Canberra on March 28 2023. He pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm after fleeing the scene in a stolen green Commodore, which he had taken from a childcare centre in NSW while an eight-year-old girl remained inside. Hazell crashed the car in Manuka after the collision, and bodycam footage revealed AFP officers unlawfully forcefully restrained him after handcuffing, violating professional standards. The victims were struck while crossing the road on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, and their families expressed relief at the conclusion of the criminal case. Separately, Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, alleging injuries and emotional distress during his arrest, with the civil case scheduled for July 2024. The sentencing judge criticized Hazellâs lack of remorse and warned of his high risk of reoffending, describing his actions as catastrophic. Local authorities have since approved safety improvements, including a signalised crossing near the school.
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, Canberra, on March 28, 2023
- Hazell was driving a stolen green Commodore (NSW-registered) taken from a Sutton childcare centre, with an eight-year-old girl still inside before he released her
- Hazell crashed the stolen car outside St Christopherâs Cathedral in Manuka after hitting the boys, then was arrested by AFP officers
- Bodycam footage shows Hazell handcuffed and later forcibly slammed to the ground by AFP Tactical Response Team officers, with one officer grabbing his neck
- An AFP investigation found the officersâ conduct breached professional standards, and prosecutors accepted the force used was unlawful
- Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years on March 28, 2024
- The victims were struck while waiting to cross the road on the median strip of Canberra Avenue in Griffith
- Hazellâs civil case against the Commonwealth for âunlawful batteryâ is expected to be heard in July 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Hazellâs statement of claim alleges his face was injured and covered in his own blood during the arrest
- Hazellâs civil claim seeks aggravated damages for âviolence and disgraceâ alongside pain, fear, and embarrassment
- Acting Justice Burns stated Hazell âlied during court proceedings to achieve shorter sentencesâ and described his prospects for rehabilitation as âextremely poorâ
- Joshua Way (father of victim Aaron Way) thanked St Edmundâs College principal Tim Cleary for supporting the families
- Calls were made post-incident to improve safety around St Edmundâs College, including a recently approved signalised crossing
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources
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