The trial of Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young, 63, accused of a triple murder and an attempted murder in 2022, is underway in the Supreme Court in Townsville. Young has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The jury has heard that Young, owner of Shannonvale Station near Bogie, is accused of killing his neighbour Graham Tighe, as well as Graham's mother Maree Schwarz and stepfather Mervyn Schwarz by shooting each with a rifle. Young is also accused of shooting Graham's brother, Ross Tighe, who survived the incident on August 4, 2022.

A man who witnessed the shooting and survived a bullet wound himself testified during the trial. Ross Tighe, 34, gave evidence via video link from a courtroom in Mackay, south of Townsville. He described how Young refused to shake Mervyn Schwarz's hand before retrieving a rifle from the back seat of his ute and opening fire.

"He shot Merv in the face — then I turned around to start running," Ross Tighe said. He recounted running between the utes to take cover and being shot in the stomach, with the bullet entering his hip. He added that after stopping to lie down to hide, he heard two more gunshots. Ross Tighe also said he saw Young shoot his brother Graham and then looked for his mother.

Young's defence lawyer argued that the farmer never saw the family he is accused of shooting on the day of the alleged incident.

The trial is expected to run for three weeks.

Sources