Queensland: Triple murderer Darryl Young appeals conviction days after receiving state’s harshest jail term

Triple murderer Darryl Young has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence just days after being handed Queensland’s harshest jail term.

Young, 63, was convicted of murdering his neighbours Graham Tighe, 35, Mervyn Schwarz, 71, and Maree Schwarz, 59, and of attempting to murder Ross Tighe after a Townsville Supreme Court jury found him guilty last week.

Young shot his neighbours at the gate of his Shannonvale Station property near Bogie, south-west of Bowen, on August 4, 2022.

The court was told the victims had gone to the property for a meeting linked to an escalating cattle dispute. Young accused his neighbours of stealing his cattle and had demanded the confrontation.

In sentencing, Justice Johnstone said there was “no evidence ever of (Graham Tighe) having stolen your cattle” and Young’s accusations were bitterly ironic because “you were the only cattle thief there that day”.

He said it was clear Young had decided to engage in some form of action against his neighbours, and he had formed a plan to kill all four at some point in time.

“How that point in time came about, nobody really will fully understand, nor will the reason for it ever truly become clear,” he said.

Justice Johnstone described Young’s actions as “thoroughly cowardly and completely ruthless”.

“They were indeed slaughtered,” he said.

“You killed three members of one family and attempted to kill a fourth as if you were killing feral animals on your property, except they were not animals, they were humans.

“They were loved family members and respected within the community. They are also your neighbours.”

Justice Johnstone found Young had shown no remorse and sentenced him to a non-parole period of 40 years.