A group of naked, drunken college students were left bleeding after being attacked and held hostage during a hazing ritual at Wagga Wagga.
An NSW district court heard that five college students had taken part in the ‘Mott Walk’, a Charles Sturt University hazing ritual in which students receive alcohol for hours before being dropped off several kilometers from Gobbagombalin University campus .
The court heard that the five first-year male students were left 9 kilometers from the CSU student accommodation at midnight on March 23, 2020 and told them to find their way back without clothes or phones.
Camera IconStudents were attacked on Old Narrandera Road on March 23, 2020 while naked and drunk. Google Maps Credit: News Corp Australia
As they walked, they were approached by Carl Derek Little, who threatened them with a gun and ordered them to get on their knees.
One of the students tried to reason with the 30-year-old, according to the court.
“You won’t shoot us. You won’t shoot us here on the side of the road on a public road. That just won’t happen,” the victim told Little.
Little hit him in the side of the head with the gun and the student fell to his knees. When he got up, he was hit again on the head with a log.
The court learned that Little detained four of the naked men for 35 minutes, during which time he beat them with a piece of wood “systematically.” One of the students had his face on the ground when Little hit him with such a hard blow that he broke his torso.
“During this detention, the youths were forced to be on their knees,” Judge Gordon Lerve told the court.
“There was a threat of knees.”
A fifth student received a blow to the head and was knocked unconscious, but the court learned he was not a captive.
The court heard the students were covered in blood, “excited and very worried” when they finally returned to the students ’accommodation. They were taken to hospital where they were treated for injuries.
Camera icon. The five men were freshmen at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW. AAP / Michael Frogley Credit: Supplied
Little faced NSW District Court on Friday after being found guilty of detaining four college students with the intent of obtaining psychological gratification and causing them actual bodily harm.
The court heard that the jury also found him guilty of recklessly injuring a fifth student who had not been arrested.
Judge Lerve said the incident would have been “terrifying” for the five youths.
“Given the presence of the weapon (or replica) and the various threats, the level of terror was considerable,” he said.
The judge described the crimes as “spontaneous when the offender saw the naked victims.” The court learned that Little had used methamphetamine and heroin on the day of the crimes.
About a week after attacking freshmen, Little was arrested for breaking into a Wagga Wagga apartment and detaining a “very scared” woman in an attempt to avoid arrest.
He pleaded guilty to the charges and on Friday was convicted of the two sets of offenses – a total of seven charges.
Judge Lerve noted that Little was on bail at the time of the crimes and has an extensive criminal record that included convictions for assault that resulted in actual bodily harm, possession of a prohibited weapon and intimidation.
The court learned that the 30-year-old had a difficult childhood and his father was a violent man who is currently serving a prison sentence for killing a police officer.
Camera IconCarl Derek Little was sentenced to Wagga Wagga District Court. Credit: News Corp Australia
Little began consuming cannabis at age 10 and became heroin and methamphetamine at age 15, court documents revealed.
Judge Lerve said Little showed “very positive signs” toward long-term rehabilitation after receiving treatment for his drug addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. The court learned that he had also expressed remorse for his actions.
The judge sentenced Little to nine years and nine months in prison, with a sentence of six years and four months without parole. His sentence will expire on July 31, 2030.