Christopher Puglia jailed for life for sledgehammer murder of parents

A man who brutally bashed his parents repeatedly with a sledgehammer will serve at least 30 years behind bars.

Christopher Puglia admitted murdering his parents Frank and Loris Puglia, both 59, at their home in Joyner, in Brisbane’s north on May 16, 2020.

The guilty plea was made just weeks before Puglia was due to face trial for the double murder.

Puglia, now 35, was sentenced to life imprisonment on each count of murder in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday, as family members supported one another in the public gallery.

Relatives going to celebrate Mrs Puglia’s 60th birthday found the bloody and disgusting murder scene, Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Peter Applegarth said.

Puglia had moved from NSW to live with his parents after losing his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the court heard.

Their relationship deteriorated over Puglia’s failure to find employment and help around the house.

After an altercation in which police were called, Puglia agreed to meet his parents’ expectations while they gave a deadline for him to find alternative accommodation.

But on Saturday, May 16, after helping his father in the garden, Puglia struck his parents multiple times with a sledgehammer before trying to put his father’s body in a wheelbarrow.

He packed belongings including food and alcohol before driving his father’s RAV4 to Southport where he slept the night.

The following day Puglia drove to NSW where he was arrested south of Newcastle hours after his parents’ bodies were found with a sledgehammer and wheelbarrow nearby.

“I have suffered more mental and physical pain than you can imagine, yet I still stand strong in front of you today,” James Puglia told his brother in court.

“You have lost the right to call Frank and Loris your parents.”

Mr Puglia said his brother’s actions have and will continue to impact the family for years.

“How do we explain this to the next generation? The brutal event that took place.”

Photos from the scene were sealed and marked “disturbing images” only to be opened on a judge’s order during the sentencing hearing, with Justice Applegarth saying pictures are worth a thousand words.

The murderous actions of Puglia, who has no criminal history, are unexplained, Justice Applegarth said.

“To say that you were resentful, ungrateful, uncaring and selfish does not begin to explain the enormity of your actions.”

Justice Applegarth sentenced him to life behind bars on each count of murder, ordering he serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.