An Illawarra man who lent his car and mobile phone to an alleged murderer - despite knowing the man was wanted by detectives - has been sentenced to nine months' jail on a hindering police charge.
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Matthew Ryan knew his mate Darren Butler was on the run from police over his alleged involvement in a fatal car chase on May 18 when he picked Butler up from Warilla 12 days later on May 30 and allowed him to take command of the vehicle.
Ryan also allowed Butler to use his phone to call another co-accused, Holly Powers, and ask her to meet them at Figtree to buy petrol for them.
An unmarked police car subsequently caught sight of Butler, Powers and Ryan in the vehicle and all three were captured after a short chase.
Butler's apprehension came almost two weeks after father-of-seven Daniel Merrett was killed when the Ford Territory he was travelling in crashed into the back of a petrol tanker at Albion Park Rail.
It is alleged the Territory was being chased by a Toyota Camry being driven by Butler and containing Holly Green and Andrew Russell, the later of whom was allegedly firing shots at the fleeing Ford.
Butler, Green and Russell fled the scene and went on the run, with Butler and Green allegedly fleeing to Melbourne for a short time before returning to the Illawarra.
Meanwhile, Ryan, who told police he'd been friends with Butler since the age of 12, was serving a sentence on an unrelated charge when his mother contacted him in custody on May 24 to tell him about Butler's alleged crime and that he was on the run from police.
Ryan was released on parole two days later but returned to custody after he, Butler and Powers were arrested.
In court on Wednesday, Judge Andrew Haesler said Ryan had put his "loyalties" to a friend ahead of his family.
"He committed the offence in breach of promises he made to the State Parole Authority, his family and I expect, to himself," he said.
"He needs to know how serious helping a mate can be in such circumstances. He has to think again about where his loyalties lie."
The court heard Ryan had a variety of mental health problems, cognitive disabilities and relapsed into drug use after being released from custody. Judge Haesler said he accepted that Ryan was under the influence of prescription and illegal drugs during the incident.
Judge Haesler sentenced Ryan to 18 months' jail, with a non-parole period of nine months.
With time served, Ryan will be released on parole at the end of this month.
Meanwhile, Butler and Russell remain before the courts, each facing a charge of murder.
