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Trio jailed for Qld woman's manslaughter

Cheryl GoodenoughAAP
Debbie Marie Combarngo died in a frenzied attack carried out by her cousins and two family friends.
Camera IconDebbie Marie Combarngo died in a frenzied attack carried out by her cousins and two family friends.

A woman whose mother died in a frenzied attack by her cousins and family friends has provided a judge with an "unforgettable moment".

Claudia Combarngo's mother Debbie Marie Combarngo, 37, died after being beaten and stabbed in the attack at a home in Wilsonton, Toowoomba, in May 2018.

She was hit with a golf club, pipe and hammer leaving injuries including a 23cm wound to the left side of her chest that caused catastrophic injuries.

Claudia Combarngo, who was pregnant at the time, and her partner, Tristan Hooper, were also injured in the attack.

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The accused - dubbed the Wilsonton Nine - fled in a maxi taxi and were caught at a Dan Murphy's bottle shop drive-through.

Three of the group Shiralee Fernando, Rhonda Ann Hall and Rhianna Jade Fing were sentenced in the Toowoomba Supreme Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The attack occurred two days before the funeral of Michael Hall who died from a drug overdose while living with the Debbie and Claudia Combarngo.

Fernando, Hall and Fing, with six others, travelled to Wilsonton "with a view to the infliction of violence upon Debbie", Justice Peter Callaghan said in sentencing the three women.

He said the picture of what occurred on May 6 was not complete, but "was truly brought into focus when Claudia addressed the court" on Wednesday.

"What you said this morning was one of the most remarkable things I have heard spoken during the 35 years I have been in and around courtrooms," he told Claudia Combarngo.

"You spoke beautifully about your mother. You spoke with grace and sincerity. It was an unforgettable moment."

Justice Callaghan referred to earlier proceedings when he hoped the events did not become the source of ongoing trouble.

"Those who died are owed at least that much," he added.

"But that sentiment had so much real power when we heard it from you, Claudia.

"You concluded your statement with a truly noble thought: You expressed the hope that everyone involved in this can find a peace for the sake of all your children and the generations to come.

"Please rest assured that you have done everything you could possibly have done to ensure that and that you have honoured your mother's memory in doing so."

Fernando, Hall and Fing pleaded guilty to manslaughter and read letters of apology in court.

Justice Callaghan said Fernando, before entering the house, armed herself with the golf club with which she would ultimately kill Debbie Combarngo.

Fernando first hit Claudia Combarngo on the back, causing her to fall to the floor where she was repeatedly hit.

Debbie Combarngo moved towards her daughter to protect her.

Justice Callaghan said it is accepted Fernando, 32, was not aware of the club's "potential lethal capacity" because it had broken.

"Having rendered Debbie helpless you continued to assault Claudia," he added, saying it would seem her injuries may have been worse if not for the "brave intervention" of Mr Hooper.

He sentenced her to nine years in jail for manslaughter and ordered she be eligible for parole on May 6, having already served nearly 1000 days in prison.

Hall, 31, was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison for manslaughter.

She took a metal pole to the Combarngo's house and goaded another group member into taking part.

With time already served she will be eligible for parole on February 6.

Justice Callaghan handed down a sentence of five years in jail for manslaughter to 31-year-old Fing.

He ordered the term be suspended after time already served behind bars.

Co-accused Ty Peter Fing, Christine Maree Hall, Ashley Aaron Fing, Jana Leigh Hall, Joshua James Lingwoodock and Lynn Faye Jean Anderson were sentenced in October after also pleading guilty.

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