Callous act as NRL star’s brother lay dying

A man who mowed down the brother of a former NRL star in a “brutal and senseless” killing stole cash from the deceased man as he lay on the road, fleeing to the Sunshine Coast to avoid detection.

The horrific detail surrounding the death of Jake Opacic was revealed as Benjamin Charles Johnson and Steven Dale Latter pleaded guilty to the 28-year-old’s manslaughter outside a Queensland prison, all linked to a dispute over a relationship.

Johnson and Latter were both sentenced to 10 years and nine years’ jail respectively.

One woman sobbed loudly as Latter’s sentence was handed down while another said “I love you” as he was led down to the cells.

Both men appeared to wipe away tears as Rhonda Opacic, Jake’s mother, told Brisbane Supreme Court of her heartbreak at losing her “wild, fun-loving, loyal and loving” son in such a “brutal” act.

She spoke of her last words to her son as he packed for the weekend away on the Gold Coast and how she was haunted by the horrendous circumstances of his death.

“He was chased down, left to die alone in the dirt on the side of the road,” Ms Opacic read from her victim impact statement.

“Did he suffer? Did he regain consciousness? Did he call out for me?
“My mind is spinning around these questions. I try to make sense of why they tried to hit him.”

Mr Opacic – who was the brother of former Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta Eels star Tom Opacic – was killed in a crash near the Numinbah Correctional Centre, in the Gold Coast hinterland region, on July 2, 2021.

The court was told he had attended the prison to pick up his then-girlfriend Rheannon Rowe, who was being released that day.

Johnson and Latter had spent the day prior consuming drugs and spoke of Johnson’s “perceived slight” with Ms Rowe continuing her relationship with Mr Opacic.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane said Johnson and Ms Rowe had previously been in a relationship for 12 years and they had several children together.

Mr Crane said there was a “contemplation” of physical violence with Mr Opacic when they too decided to pick up Ms Rowe from the jail.

The conversation included Johnson saying: “I’m going to get Rheannon, and I’ll have a crack at Opacic”.

Mr Crane said Latter had also discussed going there to watch and promised to “step in” if Johnson started “losing”.

On the day of Ms Rowe’s release the pair came close to a confrontation with Mr Opacic after their car broke down close to the prison.

The court was told an aggressive Johnson claimed Mr Opacic “stole” his girlfriend and said: “He’s taken my whole family, I’m going to kill him”.

Mr Opacic then sped away on his motorbike.

Mr Crane said Latter drove their car – with Johnson in the passenger seat – in pursuit and at some point collided with Mr Opacic’s motorcycle.

His “severe” injuries were consistent with being run over either while he was lying on the road or from being rebounded from the collision, Mr Crane said.

“Latter drove in what the Crown submits is a severe manner of criminal negligence,” he said.

“And Johnson encouraged or motivated Latter in driving that way.”

The court was told Latter then stole a backpack containing $10,200 from Mr Opacic as he lay on the road.

He then took flight to the Sunshine Coast that evening to avoid detection, Mr Crane said.

Mr Opacic had intended to use the money to travel with Ms Rowe, the court was told.

Supreme Court Justice Glenn Martin noted neither Johnson nor Latter had assisted Mr Opacic in any way.

The car Latter was driving was later found dumped in Laidley with its number plates removed.

In her victim impact statement Ms Opacic said she would always cherish the birthday and Mother’s Day cards her son spent hours picking out for her.

“Jake made an unforgettable impression on everybody he met,” she said.

“He was good with kids and wanted kids of his own.”

She said her son died with no peace or dignity and his death left a hole in her life that could “never be filled”.

“The last thing I said to him was: ‘See you, have fun,’” she said of her son’s last words to her.

“If I’d known this was the last time we talked, I would never have let him go.”

Johnson and Latter had both pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter, with Latter also pleading to a single charge of stealing property.

Johnson was jailed for nine years, with Justice Glenn Martin not setting a parole eligibility date.

Latter was jailed for 10 years, receiving a concurrent two year jail term for the stealing offence.

Justice Martin declared the manslaughter offence a “serious violent offence”, meaning Latter will need to serve 80 per cent of his sentence before being considered eligible for parole.

Some supporters were visibly upset upon learning this with one woman sobbing loudly and another calling out that she loved him.

Both men’s time spent in pre-sentence custody since 2021 was declared as time served.

Lawyers for Johnson and Latter said their clients had both expressed remorse for their actions, writing letters of apology to the Opacic family.

Barrister Angus Edwards, representing Johnson, said his client had been exposed to a “prejudicial childhood” and abuse growing up, turning to drug abuse as a coping mechanism.

The court was told the pursuit was only intended to intimidate Mr Opacic.

Mr Edwards said Johnson had completed a number of vocational courses while in custody, including working as a cook in the jail.

“His intention upon release is to live with his mother and work at a meatworks,” Mr Edwards said.

Latter’s barrister said his client had also struggled with drug use, which had increased after the deaths of his parents.

He said Latter had become “swept up” as a “reluctant” participant in the events which unfolded very quickly that day.

“He is remorseful for the consequences of his actions,” Latter’s barrister said.