The Supreme Court trial of Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young, 63, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth at Bogie on August 4, 2022, heard contested evidence on Thursday about an alleged phone call and about Young's whereabouts on the morning of the shootings.
Queensland farmer's murder trial hears disputed account of pre-shooting phone call
The Supreme Court trial of Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young, 63, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth at Bogie on August 4, 2022, heard contested evidence on Thursday about an alleged phone call and about Young's whereabouts on the morning of the shootings.
Young is charged with the murders of neighbours Graham Tighe, Maree Schwarz, and Mervyn Schwarz, and the attempted murder of Ross Tighe, at Bogie on August 4, 2022. Young's lawyer has said his client never saw the family at the gate of his Bogie cattle station on the morning he is alleged to have shot them.
Ross Tighe, who gave evidence on Tuesday and Wednesday, told the court he and his family members were shot by Young. His ex-partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence Thursday and said she saw Ross Tighe's wound after the alleged shooting before he was collected by a rescue helicopter.
The woman said she had previously visited Graham Tighe's Sutherland Station, which bordered Young's Shannonvale Station, and had encountered Young there. 'He was just lingering around on his buggy,' she said. 'I encountered him a few times on that trip because he lingers around on his buggy spying on everybody.'
Young's son, Derek Young, 39, also gave evidence Thursday. He said he asked his father on August 4, 2022, to allow wind farm workers into Shannonvale Station, who arrived at the property gate at about 7:30am, before leaving the homestead for about an hour to tend to cattle. Derek Young said he later joined Darryl Young and Darryl Young's stepmother to meet the wind farm workers, who were installing a radar on a ridge on the property. The group learned of a shooting when a wind farm worker called his supervisor at about 11:30am and was told of the incident. Derek Young said the group waited at the site all day until police arranged for them to travel together in one vehicle to the property gate, where they were arrested. Derek Young and Darryl Young's stepmother are not accused of any wrongdoing.
- The source does not state what evidence, if any, places Darryl Young at the alleged crime scene.
- The source does not state the basis on which police identified Young as a suspect leading to the arrest at the property gate.
- The source does not state whether any physical or forensic evidence has been presented to the court.
- The source does not state how many witnesses in total have been called or are scheduled to give evidence.
- The source does not identify the presiding judge or the prosecution counsel.
Read the original at ABC News Australia