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Queensland grazier denies triple murder, claims he 'didn't shoot the family'
🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Queensland grazier denies triple murder, claims he 'didn't shoot the family'

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A man accused of killing three people at his north Queensland property in 2022 denies the charges.
  • The accused claims he did not shoot the family and did not possess the alleged murder weapon.
  • Prosecutors allege the accused used a .30-30 rifle and disposed of it after the shooting.

A man accused of a triple murder at his north Queensland cattle station has told a jury he "didn't shoot the family" and denied possessing the rifle prosecutors allege was the murder weapon.

I didn't shoot the family and it's not mine

— Darryl Valroy YoungResponding to being shown a photo of a spent .30-30 rifle cartridge allegedly found in his home.

Darryl Valroy Young, 63, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Mervyn and Maree Schwarz and Graham Tighe were found dead at the gate of his Bogie property, Shannonvale Station, in 2022. The trial in the Supreme Court at Townsville heard from Ross Tighe, who said he suffered a bullet wound in the shooting.

Mr Young's lawyers have told the trial their client was not at the gate of Shannonvale Station at the time of the alleged shooting and never saw the family on that day. Crown prosecutor David Nardone showed the court a photo of a spent .30-30 rifle cartridge, which police allege was found inside Mr Young's home. "I didn't shoot the family and it's not mine," Mr Young said when shown the photo of the spent round. The prosecutor has told the trial that the calibre of rifle used was a .30-30, and accused Mr Young of using such a rifle and throwing it into a mine shaft on his property afterwards. Mr Young, a licensed firearm holder, did not have a .30-30 rifle registered to him, and none were found on his property.

You would have had time to complete the telephone call with Graham Tighe and get to the front gate

— David NardoneSuggesting the accused had the opportunity to be at his front gate after a phone call on the day before the alleged murders.

Mr Young was questioned about motion detection cameras he said he removed from his front gate the morning of August 3, 2022, the day before the alleged triple murder. Mr Nardone presented a dark photo, allegedly taken from one of the gate cameras after 8:00pm on August 3, 2022, after Mr Young allegedly called Graham Tighe to arrange a morning meeting at the gate. "You would have had time to complete the telephone call with Graham Tighe and get to the front gate," Mr Nardone said. "I didn't go to the front gate," Mr Young responded. The trial continues.

I didn't go to the front gate

— Darryl Valroy YoungDenying he was at his front gate after a phone call on the day before the alleged murders.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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