Raymond Kevin Ziebell (left) tries to hide his face from the media after leaving court on Monday. Photo: Albert McKnight.
In what would have been a terrifying ordeal, a woman was trapped by three violent criminals and assaulted with a baseball bat before being driven out to a rural lookout.
This traumatic experience only ended when she “quite miraculously” managed to escape, a judge said.
One of the trio, 47-year-old Raymond Kevin Ziebell, listened to his victim describe the life-long impacts their offences had on her in his ACT Supreme Court sentencing hearing on Monday (20 October).
“I ask that you see me not as a passive recipient of harm, but as a woman who endured unimaginable violence and has chosen to act,” the woman said.
She said she was raised to be a strong person and this strength had saved her life when she was “led into a trap” in December 2023.
“What followed was cruel, calculated and premeditated,” she said.
The woman said she was hit in the face with a baseball bat by one of her female attackers while they demanded $15,000.
The car she was in drove onto a dirt track, and she was threatened, strangled and punched before being forced to go towards Shepherds Lookout, a remote lookout west of Belconnen.
The woman thought she would never return home, but in a surge of adrenaline, she kicked a male attacker off her and ran.
She said she was taken to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition and underwent emergency surgeries for facial trauma. She continues to suffer issues with vision in one eye, problems with her jaw and has missing teeth.
“Since then, my life has narrowed to a corridor of fear and isolation,” the woman said.
She said she rarely leaves her home, finds tasks like shopping to be unbearable and said her daughter’s life has also been irrevocably altered due to the crime.
Raymond Kevin Ziebell (left) tries to hide his face from media under his jacket after his sentencing hearing on Monday. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Ziebell, who spent 414 days in custody on remand before he was granted bail, pleaded guilty to five charges by joint commission. These included recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm, forcible confinement, choking and assault.
One of his co-offenders has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year, while the second co-offender has died.
Prosecutor Georgina Meikle said Ziebell’s victim was entirely helpless and noted how gratuitous violence was inflicted on her, which only ended due to her miraculous escape.
She asked for a further period of full-time jail as the time he had already spent in custody was insufficient.
When Ziebell gave evidence in court himself on Monday (20 October), his barrister, James Sabharwal, asked how he felt about his offending.
“Very sad that something like that has happened,” he replied.
“I feel for the lady. I can’t turn back time. It’s gut-wrenching.”
Ziebell, who lives in Narrabundah, said he was genuine in his desire to complete drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
“I’m 100 per cent about trying to resolve my issues,” he said.
“I will not deviate and let myself down.”
His mother told the court she had supported him while he had been on bail.
“He’s had a hard life. He’s a good man,” she said, visibly emotional.
Mr Sabharwal noted the time his client had already spent in custody and said he hadn’t been handed any more charges after he had been granted bail.
“It will be traumatic for him if he goes back,” Mr Sabharwal said.
Justice Louise Taylor will sentence Ziebell on Tuesday (21 October).
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