Supreme Court gives suspended term to woman who helped hide murder weapon

In a Brisbane Supreme Court hearing, Jade Brenda Laing received a four-year prison sentence that will be suspended for five years after pleading guilty to aiding her then-partner, Tyler Rewi Malcolm Hailes, in fleeing the scene of a fatal stabbing. The incident occurred in August 2023 at Robina’s RQ’s Tavern, where 26-year-old Dylan McPadden was killed. Laing drove Hailes away, stopped the car so he could toss the knife into a body of water, and later concealed his clothing, later denying involvement to police.

The judge, Peter Davis, noted Laing’s history of sustained domestic violence, which he said influenced her decisions, and emphasized that she did not directly cause the killing. Family members delivered emotional impact statements, describing McPadden as a vibrant and beloved son. Hailes continues to face a murder charge, with his trial scheduled for December.