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4 months ago
23
The convicted killer who held Nick Kyrgios's mum at gunpoint to steal the tennis ace's Tesla was experiencing delusional beliefs at the time and hoped to use the car to communicate with billionaire Elon Musk, a court has heard.
A 33-year-old Canberra man has been sentenced to more than four years in jail by the ACT Supreme Court for the incident in May 2023.
The terrifying saga began when Nick Kyrgios's mum Norlaila answered a knock at the door of her Canberra home.
Mrs Kyrgios was confronted by a man with a long barrel gun wearing a black mask over part of his face.
The man forced open the door and demanded the keys to her son's $125,000 car.
He then forced her toward the car at gunpoint and demanded she tell him how to operate the vehicle.
Mrs Kyrgios managed to raise the alarm soon after and the man fled in the bright green Tesla.
Wimbledon finalist Nick then rang triple-0 - all while using the electric car's special app on his phone to limit the Tesla's speed to 80km/h an hour and track its movements for police, who eventually caught and charged the offender.
A Canberra man has been sentenced to more than four years in jail for stealing Nick Kyrgios's Tesla (pictured) in May 2023
The robber, who threatened the tennis ace's mother (pictured) with a firearm, believed he could communicate with billionaire Elon Musk through the vehicle
The robber, who has a long criminal history and has served time for culpable driving causing death, apologised in court for the trauma he had caused.
The judge revealed that the man believed at the time of the robbery that he would be able to use the Tesla to contact billionaire Elon Musk to talk about microchips and vaccines.
The offender, who was experiencing drug-induced psychosis at the time, sought to be sentenced to a alcohol and drug treatment order, but the judge found the man's deeds warranted a longer sentence.
Kyrgios' sister, Halimah Kyrgios, told reporters outside the court that her family was 'pleased with the decision'.
Nick Kyrgios's family was pleased with the decision of the court (Kyrgios is pictured with his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi)
'However, it cannot bring back the peace that the man stole from us,' she said.
'We don't wish the trauma we have suffered on anyone, and hope this serves as a catalyst for the courts to be less lenient.
'We've always learned to forgive, but I think, personally, just for the safety of the community, this was dealt with the right way.'
The offender will become eligible for release in March 2026.
English (US)