David Lee Tan: QLD Police probe killer over location of missing man's body

Police have spoken to a killer about the location of a missing man’s body as he awaits sentencing, a judge has heard.

David Lee Tan, 42, faced Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Lachlan James Griffiths and being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Andrew Christopher Walsh.

Mr Griffiths was last seen alive in the Brisbane CBD on January 16, 2022, before his mother reported the 35-year-old missing 10 days later.

Tan admitted unlawfully killing Mr Griffiths on or about January 17, 2022, at Coopers Plains, south of Brisbane, but his body has never been found.

Crown prosecutor Chris Cook told Justice Francis Williams that Tan could not demonstrate he had co-operated with attempts to find Mr Griffiths.

“Tan (wrote in a letter) he is heartbroken that Mr Griffiths’ remains have not been found. That’s just nonsense. He has spent years lying in court proceedings and to police,” Mr Cook said.

“As of last Tuesday, he was denying knowing whatsoever where Lachie may be. Police have spoken to him several times in the last eight days and he continued to lie to them.”

Justice Williams said determining if Tan knew where Mr Griffiths’ body was and his extent of co-operation with police would be a matter for the parole board.

Defence barrister Malcolm Harrison said there was no evidence Tan knew the location of Mr Griffiths’ body.

Mr Walsh was last seen in Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, on November 7, 2021.

The 35-year-old’s body was found encased in concrete at Tan’s nearby transport warehouse in March 2022.

Mr Cook said Tan gave instructions to others on how to clean up after Mr Walsh’s death and was present at the scene for an extended time on the night of the killing.

“At 5am they went to get some breakfast. Tan described ways of disposing of Mr Walsh’s body,” Mr Cook said.

“He was instrumental in pouring the concrete and in burning Mr Walsh’s clothes.”

Mr Cook said a photograph of Mr Griffith’s body wrapped in plastic had been found on Tan’s phone.

Mr Harrison said Tan was a “coward” who had acted out of fear and not intervened to stop the killing but had not personally assaulted Mr Walsh or Mr Griffiths and did not lure them to their deaths.

“He allowed his business premises to be involved in the infliction of violence, for interrogations or dealing with people,” Mr Harrison said.

Justice Williams reserved her decision on sentencing to a future date.

Billy Lee Bornstein, 30, is also due to be sentenced, having pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Griffiths.

Joshua Robert Searston, 26, and Dewald De Klerk, 30, are due to stand trial accused of the murder of Mr Walsh.