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'Lionel no... please help me': Murdered mum's desperate final plea

One day after her murderer was sentenced to life behind bars, chilling details have emerged of how Lionel Patea tortured Tara Brown during her final days.

Before her tragic death, Patea held scissors to the New Zealand mother’s throat and denied her access to their daughter, Aria, for two days as lawyers finalised a custody agreement.

It was an agreement that would never come to fruition.

Her attempts to seek refuge and full custody of Aria left Patea enraged until one day it all became too much.

At speeds of more than 100km/h a "heavily self-medicated" Patea rammed the fleeing 24-year-old off the Gold Coast suburban street, flipping Ms Brown’s Mazda 2 on its side, leaving her trapped in the driver’s seat.

The young mum feared for her life in the days leading up to her sickening murder. Source: Facebook
The young mum feared for her life in the days leading up to her sickening murder. Source: Facebook
Patea used this fire hydrant cover, weighing 7.8 kilograms, to bludgeon his former partner's head as terrified witnesses tried to stop him. Source: Brisbane Supreme Court.
Patea used this fire hydrant cover, weighing 7.8 kilograms, to bludgeon his former partner's head as terrified witnesses tried to stop him. Source: Brisbane Supreme Court.

An unknowing witness rushed to Ms Brown’s assistance, thinking he was helping Patea break down the windscreen to rescue the driver, but it was then the ex-bikie lunged at a petrified Ms Brown.

To screams of “Lionel no!” and “please help me”, Patea took the eight kilogram fire hydrant cover and bludgeoned Ms Brown 16 times as she laid trapped in her car.

A male witness tried to pull Patea away as a female witness screamed “what the f**k are you doing?” to which Patea replied, “she’s got my kid”.

The police operator that Tara had desperately called while being chased down by Patea could only listen over the phone to the brutal blows being laid to her head.

Tara Brown sought refuge from Patea after their relationship deteriorated. Source: Instagram
Tara Brown sought refuge from Patea after their relationship deteriorated. Source: Instagram

As Ms Brown laid bloodied and falling in and out of consciousness with the fire hydrant cover resting on her head, another female witness, Lisa Kennedy, jumped on Patea’s back to stop the deadly assault.

“Even though I tried my best to stop you, I felt hopeless and helpless at the scene. For the first six months, every time I closed my eyes, I saw Tara ... My eyes would well up with tears because of the guilt I carry, that I will forever carry, that I failed her in not recognising and understanding that her fear was of you,” Ms Kennedy said after the attack.


The injuries left Ms Brown “brain dead” and claimed her life shortly after the sickening attack, while the man responsible handed himself in and pleaded guilty.

In court Patea pleaded guilty to all charges and issued a statement of apology to his former partner’s family moments after he was sentenced to life behind bars.

Lionel Patea pleaded guilty to all charges over the murder of his former partner, Tara Brown. Source: 7 News
Lionel Patea pleaded guilty to all charges over the murder of his former partner, Tara Brown. Source: 7 News
The family of the beautiful New Zealand mother said she will never be forgotten. Source: Facebook
The family of the beautiful New Zealand mother said she will never be forgotten. Source: Facebook

In a statement read outside court by his solicitor Campbell McCallum, Patea said he pleaded guilty with the full support of his family, who had encouraged him to face up to his actions.

"I do not wish to cause Tara's family any further pain nor delay their need for justice," Patea said in the statement.

"I accept without reservation the punishment imposed upon me by the justice system today, I will also ultimately be judged by God.

"I know Tara will never be forgotten, nor will I ever be forgiven.

"I just hope that I can today stop any further potential pain and suffering for Tara's family."