A Canberra court has heard how a man was “shattered” when his girlfriend died from an overdose of drugs he had supplied to her.
Key points:
- The court heard Brooklyn Beattie and his girlfriend had been smoking and injecting heroin in the days before her death
- It also heard on the night of her death, she had fallen asleep after taking valium and heroin and was snoring, but later vomited and died
- The judge noted Beattie made efforts to save her, including calling triple-0 and performing CPR
Brooklyn Beattie, 22, pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to supplying valium and heroin to the 20-year-old woman who was a student at the Australian Catholic University in Canberra.
The court heard the pair had also taken heroin in the two days before her death, first smoking it and then injecting it.
On Easter Monday — the day the woman died — Beattie obtained six valium tablets and $80 worth of heroin to share with his girlfriend.
The court heard she had fallen asleep after taking the drug and was snoring.
Beattie later told authorities when he noticed she was no longer snoring, he found she had vomited.
Facts read to the court say he tried to administer naloxone — an opioid overdose treatment — but when it did not revive her, he called an ambulance, and tried CPR while waiting.
The court heard Beattie made full admissions about the drugs to authorities as soon as they arrived, but it was too late.
His lawyer, Rachel Bird, told the court the facts in the case demonstrated he did all he could to help.
“It sets out what quite frankly was a tragedy,” Ms Bird said.
“He is truly devastated.”
Ms Bird said Beattie was seeking ongoing help with his drug use through the help of his church and counsellor and he was now looking for work after losing his job because of the charges.
The court heard Beattie had taken drugs from a young age and suffered a moderate addiction problem.
Beattie showed genuine remorse, magistrate finds
Magistrate Jane Campbell said the case highlighted the risk of drug taking.
“You, Mr Beattie, as the supplier, were also the person who saw the result of the risk of drugs,” Magistrate Campbell said.
“The circumstances of [the] death are nothing but tragic.”
While handing down the sentence, Magistrate Campbell acknowledged Beattie’s efforts to revive his girlfriend and assistance to authorities.
“These factors demonstrate to me that you are genuinely remorseful and that you are suffering from [the] loss of your girlfriend,” Magistrate Campbell said.
Magistrate Campbell also noted Beattie’s motivation was not greed or money but rather to share the drug experience with his girlfriend.
“It has been the biggest wake-up call for you… and that has been the biggest silver lining in this,” she said.
Magistrate Campbell told Beattie he could honour his girlfriend and his parents by remaining abstinent from drugs.
Beattie has been sentenced to a six-month good behaviour order, and will have to keep up his rehabilitation.