Man jailed for killing unit manager during argument with sex worker

A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the fatal attack on a 75-year-old at an apartment complex in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Joshua John Wishart, 36, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and serious assault after killing Alfred Westmoreland in October 2023. Mr. Westmoreland died at the scene from blunt-force head injuries.

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Your intention was violence and you rose to that very quickly.

Justice Peter Davis described Wishart's actions as "extremely callous" and noted his "very limited remorse." The judge stated, "Your intention was violence and you rose to that very quickly." Wishart, appearing via video link from custody, became agitated and left the interview room before his sentence was read, demanding a transcript.

The altercation began when Wishart, who had traveled from Perth for a funeral, hired a sex worker at the unit complex. He felt deceived by the advertisement and demanded the woman refund him $50 for his taxi fare. When Mr. Westmoreland's wife intervened, Wishart punched her in the face and then struck her again. Mr. Westmoreland came downstairs to protect his wife and the sex worker, leading to the verbal exchange and the fatal blow.

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Give me a transcript, I'm not f***ing hearing that.

Adding to the disturbing nature of the incident, the court heard Wishart took a photograph of the victim on the ground before leaving to buy alcohol. His defense attorney cited a difficult childhood marked by addiction and family issues, including his father's suicide, as contributing factors to his client's struggles with substances and trauma.

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You don't know who you're messing with.