Beloved Uber driver ‘left for dead’ by teen robbers

Rex Martinich |

Ian Cabrie says his brother Scott brightened people’s lives in so many ways.
Ian Cabrie says his brother Scott brightened people’s lives in so many ways.

The brother of a “beloved” uber driver chased down and fatally stabbed by two teenage robbers has told a judge he is haunted by the terrifying, unprovoked attack.

Scott Cabrie, 47, was “murdered in cold blood while simply trying to do his job” late at night in regional Queensland on February 7, 2023, crown prosecutor Chris Cook told Justice Peter Davis.

“There was no reason except for the thrill of it. It was extreme violence with no provocation whatsoever. He did not resist,” Mr Cook said.

Mr Cabrie suffered a 12cm-deep knife wound to the back while he was trying to run away from the teens who had attacked him outside Howard, about 300 kilometres north of Brisbane.

Mr Cabrie’s brother Ian read his victim impact statement to the court.

“My thoughts have frequently returned to what he went through… bundled into the back of a car at knifepoint, driven to a lonely boat ramp to be murdered. Was he terrified?” he said.

Ian Cabrie speaks to the media
Ian Cabrie is haunted thinking about his brother’s final moments. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Ian Cabrie said the community held a candle-lit vigil to “share countless stories about how their beloved Uber driver had brightened their lives in so many ways”.

A 19-year-old man faced Brisbane Supreme Court for sentencing on Tuesday, having previously pleaded guilty to murder.

The teen cannot be named as he was 17 at the time.

Co-offender Tye Wayne Porter, 20, also faced sentencing after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Cook said Porter and the teen “left Mr Cabrie for dead” beside the road and fled in the Uber driver’s blue Nissan X-Trail SUV.

The teen later placed the pair’s knives in the SUV before setting it on fire.

The teen and Porter also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a motor vehicle, arson and armed robbery.

Mr Cook said Porter had been drinking and smoking cannabis with the teen, who suggested they steal a car.

After Mr Cabrie drove the teens to a residence at 11:30pm, they returned with knives and demanded his mobile phones before pushing him into the SUV’s caged cargo area.

The teen and Porter drove to the boat ramp then stabbed Mr Cabrie when he was inside the SUV.

Mr Cabrie was able to get out and run before falling and suffering a seventh and fatal stab wound from the teen.

Mr Cook said the teen should be sentenced to between 20 and 22 years in detention as Justice Davis could find the killing “particularly heinous”.

He said Porter should be imprisoned for 11 to 12 years with a requirement he serve a minimum of 80 per cent of the sentence in custody.

The teen’s barrister Charlotte Smith said her client should serve 10 to 12 years as the murder was not premeditated.

“He was deeply affected by the victim impact statements,” Ms Smith said.

Porter’s barrister said his client should be sentenced to nine years.

Justice Davis warned Mr Carbie’s numerous family and supporters in court he would not reach a decision on the “complex” matter on Tuesday.

Sentencing has been adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

AAP