Court Hears Claims Queensland Farmer Spied on Neighbours Before Triple Murder

A court has heard claims Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young, who is accused of murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth, would spy on a neighbouring property.

Mr Young, 63, is accused of fatally shooting his neighbour Graham Tighe and Mr Tighe's mother and stepfather, Maree Schwarz and Mervyn Schwarz, on August 4, 2022, at Bogie.

He is also accused of the attempted murder of Mr Tighe's brother, Ross Tighe.

Mr Young has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

His lawyer said his client never saw the family at the gate of his Bogie cattle station on the morning he was accused of shooting them.

Ross Tighe gave evidence on Tuesday and Wednesday and said he and his family members were shot by Mr Young.

'A horror movie'

Mr Tighe told the court that after the shooting he drove while wounded to find help.

Ross Tighe's ex-partner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, today told the court she saw Mr Tighe's wound after the alleged shooting before he was picked up by a rescue helicopter.

The woman, who cried while recounting the events, was questioned by Mr Young's defence lawyer Anthony J Kimmins about how sound her memory was.

"It's like a movie in my head, a horror movie," she told the court.

She said the first time she saw Mr Young was long before the alleged triple murder.

She said she had been visiting Graham Tighe's Sutherland Station, which bordered on Mr Young's Shannonvale Station.

She said she was fencing along the adjoining properties but did not speak to Mr Young.

"He was just lingering around on his buggy," the woman said.

She described overhearing a phone call between Graham Tighe and Darryl Young the day before the alleged triple murder.

"Darryl said, 'You can meet me at the border of Shannonvale,' he said, '8am it will be you, your brother, Mervyn and Maree,'" she said.

"He reiterated that about three times before the conversation ended."

Mr Kimmins challenged the woman on whether she actually overheard such a discussion.

"Can I suggest to you that that was never said at all?" Mr Kimmins asked.

"Can I suggest that you weren't even there."

The woman quickly rebuked Mr Young's defence lawyer.

"No, you can't suggest it because that is not the truth," she said.

Accused’s son gives evidence

Mr Young's son, Derek Young, 39, was called to give evidence before jurors today.

He said he asked his father on August 4, 2022, to let wind farm workers into Shannonvale Station who arrived at the property gate about 7:30am.

He said he then left the homestead to tend to cattle for an hour.

Derek Young said he later joined Darryl Young, and Darryl Young's stepmother to meet the wind farm workers where they were installing a radar on a ridge on their property.

He said the group was told there had been a shooting when one of the wind farm workers called their boss to turn the radar on about 11:30am.

"We had to wait there — all day until we got arrested," Derek Young said.

"There was one wind farm boy doing all the calling to his boss and a police officer.

Derek Young and Darryl Young's stepmother are not accused of any wrongdoing.

Derek Young said he never saw his father with any blood on him, or with any weapon on the day.

He said he did not notice a change in his father's demeanour throughout the day either.

Derek Young said the group was told to travel together in one vehicle to meet police at the property gate.

He said a wind farm worker drove and the group was arrested.

The trial continues.