Jayson Brett Dal Molin provided testimony during his sentencing for the unlawful death of Sydney surfer Guy Haymes. Dal Molin entered a guilty plea for manslaughter following an incident that occurred in a Manly apartment in 2024.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Dal Molin had demanded the 59-year-old victim to undress over a missing $50 bill, which led to an assault that resulted in severe head injuries. He admitted to stripping Haymes and shaking him upside down in an effort to humiliate him before the tragic outcome.
In a surprising turn, Dal Molin, aged 43, chose to testify last week, prompting a delay in his sentencing. Appearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court, he expressed his desire to convey his remorse to Haymes’ family through his testimony. “As I approached sentencing, it weighed heavily on me. I felt it was important to give evidence for the family,” he stated.
Crown Prosecutor Sally Traynor recounted the established facts, indicating that Dal Molin had violently attacked Haymes after accusing him of misplacing the $50. “Mr. Haymes was a slight individual, weighing around 49 kilograms and in poor health,” Ms. Traynor noted.
Dal Molin’s actions escalated to a point where he forced Haymes to perform a handstand and lifted him by his legs. The court learned that the severity of the assault was so alarming that a witness fled the apartment by jumping from the balcony. Haymes ultimately succumbed to his injuries 15 days later in the hospital.
During his court testimony, Dal Molin spoke about the childhood trauma he endured from family violence, which led to ongoing struggles with substance abuse. “I have battled with drugs and alcohol my entire life, using anything I could find to numb my pain,” he remarked.
Dal Molin later revealed that he had been consuming around two liters of alcohol daily at the time of the incident in 2024. “I can’t even recall how I got to the apartment; I was that inebriated,” he confessed. “I am profoundly sorry for what I have done; my suffering is now someone else’s burden.”
During cross-examination, Dal Molin acknowledged that he did not remember the events leading up to the attack but accepted the established facts presented in court. Responding to Ms. Traynor’s assertion that his actions were excessive, he conceded, “It seems that way, yes,” when asked if he was attempting to humiliate Haymes.
He later admitted to the Crown’s assertion that he showed a “complete disregard” for Haymes’ life by failing to call for medical help following the assault. “I have no excuses; I did not call an ambulance,” Dal Molin admitted.
