Man Jailed for 22 Years Over Dog Dispute Murder

A man found guilty of a shooting murder that was sparked by an argument over a dog has been jailed for 22 years.

Luke Willcockson will spend at least 16 and a half years behind bars, after a jury found him guilty of fatally shooting Paul Davy through the screen door of a Kendall home on November 22, 2023.

Mr Davy's sister said hearing the sentence being handed down was "bittersweet", but it had restored her faith in "the system".

"No amount of time is going to get back my brother," Dona Davy said.

"I'm elated that it's a lot more than we had envisioned and it's wonderful to see the trial process and the outcome.

"He was my guardian, he was my teacher, my big brother in every sense of the word, the biggest clown anyone would meet, the funniest person, so smart on so many levels and cheeky."

Willcockson, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of intending to pervert the course of justice and guilty to manslaughter, but not guilty of murder.

He was convicted of murdering Mr Davy by a jury in February.

During the trial, Willcockson said he was unaware his gun was loaded, before "accidentally" firing a single shot into Mr Davy's chest at close range.

He remained expressionless while receiving his sentence.

'A box of ashes'

Mr Davy's mother, Sue Magowan, told the court describing the loss of her son was like "trying to describe the colours a blind person is missing out on".

"All we've got left is a box of ashes," she said.

Ms Magowan said she was "pleased" with the sentence.

Disputes over a dog

Court facts show on the day of Mr Davy's murder, Willcockson and friends took a dog from a property in Coolongolook.

It was taken to a home on Batar Creek Road, where Mr Davy arrived a short time later.

An argument erupted at the front door when Mr Davy tried to retrieve the dog.

CCTV footage played to the court showed him saying it was "a child's dog mate, it's not his".

Willcockson then took a rifle from his bag and approached the door, where Mr Davy was heard to say "you won't do it, you won't shoot me".

Moments later, he was shot in the chest.

In delivering Willcockson's sentence, Acting Justice Ian Harrison said Mr Davy's death was "senseless, unprovoked and tragic" as well as "spontaneous and unplanned."

"The consequences are no less tragic for that."

During sentencing, he noted Willcockson's letter of remorse accepting responsibility for Mr Davy's death, his drug dependency, challenging upbringing and current medical conditions, as well as victim impact statements from Mr Davy's family.

Willcockson will be eligible for parole in November 2040.