A teenage boy's alleged bashing death over a pair of headphones in Sydney's west has been labelled "cruelty of the highest order" after a man was jailed for concealing the identity of those responsible.
Jason Galleghan, 16, died from horrific injuries days after he was allegedly beaten by a group of teens inside a Doonside home on August 4, 2021.
Harley Shaun Bartolo was today sentenced to a minimum of 17 months in prison after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Bartolo, now 31, did not take part in the alleged attack on Jason but lied to police about what he witnessed that day.
Several others, including five juveniles, remain before the courts charged over alleged roles in Jason's death.
Judge Ian Bourke told Parramatta District Court the facts of the case could "only be described as horrific".
"Many, or perhaps most people, would find it hard to believe a group of humans, some of them children, would be capable of such behaviour."
He said the alleged acts of those charged with assaulting Jason were sustained, frenzied and amounted to "cruelty of the highest order".
The court heard Jason was lured to the home before being ambushed and repeatedly kicked, punched and stomped on for 33 minutes.
Parts of the incident were allegedly filmed on mobile phones, showing Jason being forced to kiss one assailant's shoes and him saying he was going to "pass out".
Judge Bourke said the footage depicted Jason being humiliated while he was attacked.
"It is difficult to put into words the seriousness of the sustained and vicious attack in this case," he said.
Bartolo was at the Doonside home throughout the incident but would later say he didn't intervene out of fear.
He told police two unknown men with "black skin" and wearing hooded jumpers came into the house and attacked Jason in a bedroom.
However, he later admitted that was a lie and divulged how a woman allegedly organised for a group to bash Jason because she thought he stole her headphones.
Judge Bourke said Bartolo was aware of the plans for the attack and gave a false story to investigators after it.
But the judge accepted it was a "spontaneous" story given by a man who had been bullied and taken advantage of throughout his life.
He sentenced Bartolo to two years and 10 months jail, with a 17-month non-parole period.
With time served, the Blacktown man will first be eligible for parole next month.
In closing, Judge Bourke offered his sympathy to Jason's mother, Rachel Galleghan, who sat in court today.
"The court extends to Jason's mother and family its condolences for their terrible suffering and loss."
