Brought into Griffith District Court smiling and joking, the pair responsible for a four day 'large joint crime spree' back in 2017 spanning from Griffith to Figtree were preparing themselves for sentencing.
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Zach Corkery and Allan Burns were lead into the court dressed in their detention greens, and were quick to shout messages of love and blow kisses to family members present on Wednesday.
However upon the mention of a possible adjournment to Sydney to await further psychological reports and cross-examination, Burns and Corkery's demeanor rapidly took a downward turn.
"I want to be sentenced today!" shouted Corkery just before judge Michael King left the bench for the legal representatives to confer with their clients.
Not the only drama to disrupt the court room, a member of the public was escorted out by a sheriff for allegedly appearing to film the court proceedings on her mobile phone.
I want to be sentenced today!
- Accused Zach Corkery
"It is yet to be determined if it [the adjournment] will be a mention or sentencing, but odds are sentencing... will be in the new year," judge King said.
The report is set to detail if and how a possible intellectual disability contributed to Burns' offending behaviour.
"In my own view, it is extremely remote that any further report will provide balance to sentencing," judge King added.
"However I am not prepared to deprive the accused of material which might assist."
He ultimately decided to part-hear the matter on the day, with the case tentatively scheduled for mention on December 13 at the Downing Centre in Sydney, pending the completion of the report.
Burns confirmed his pleas of guilty to 28 charges including aggravated break, enter and steal, police pursuit, robbery in company, using an offensive weapon, firearm possession and vehicle theft.
However I am not prepared to deprive the accused of material which might assist.
- Judge Michael King
Maxine Gail McKay, Corkery's mother, took to the witness stand to thoroughly detail his "troubled" childhood.
Corkery listened on, with Burn's hand resting on his back for support as emotions took over for both himself and his mother.
Ms McKay said her three children stayed for periods of time swapping between her and her ex-husband after their "difficult" split.
For her, she detailed her turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with the stress of raising children alone.
She said the pivotal moment for Corkery after his most recent release on parole before the 'spree', was finding out the child he was expecting and looking forward to was not his, and turning to drugs for consolation.
"Zach was over the moon. When he found out he wasn't [the father]... the rest is history."
Judge King made the order for both offenders to get sentencing assessment reports before December.
He also made orders for them both to appear on the day unless and until it "became apparent" the psychological material would not be ready.
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