Qld: Armed robber jailed for brazen motel attack

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2008
Qld: Armed robber jailed for brazen motel attack

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Aug 6 AAP - A man who robbed a motel at gunpoint just hours before his co-offender
shot dead a police officer then turned the gun on himself, has been jailed for nine years.

Steven William Dewey, 39, of Wynnum in Brisbane's east, will be eligible for parole
in four years after already serving one year in pre-sentence custody over the robbery
in July last year.

The Brisbane District Court was told Dewey and Craig Semyraha, then 29, stole more
than $2,700 from the motel in Brisbane's north to raise money to buy drugs.

The court was told the pair - who had become friends while in jail for previous offences
- burst into the hotel and threatened to kill a 68-year-old woman and her 70-year-old
husband who were working at reception.

Defence barrister Paul Smith told the court his client was high on speed at the time.

Later that night police went to Semyraha's house at Keperra to speak to him about breaching
bail conditions, and became involved in a shoot-out.

Semyraha shot dead 29-year-old Constable Brett Irwin before turning the gun on himself.

Semyraha later died in hospital.

During a forensic examination of the gunman's home, police found cheques and bank bags
from the robbery, as well as Dewey's wallet.

Dewey was arrested and made full admissions to police about his involvement in the robbery.

AAP cf/pjo/jt/de

KEYWORD: DEWEY

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