Queensland farmer Darryl Young convicted of triple murder and attempted murder at Bogie cattle station
Consensus Summary
Darryl Valroy Young, a 63-year-old Queensland farmer, was convicted of the triple murder of Mervyn Schwarz (71), Maree Schwarz (59), and Graham Tighe (35) on August 4, 2022, at his Shannonvale Station property near Bogie. The victims were lured to the property under the pretense of resolving a dispute over stolen calves, which escalated into a shooting spree. Young, dubbed the 'Beast of Bogie,' was also found guilty of attempting to kill Ross Tighe, Graham’s brother, who survived the attack after being shot in the stomach. The trial, held in Townsville Supreme Court, heard testimony from Ross Tighe, who described witnessing the shootings and fleeing the scene. Young’s defence argued there was no scientific evidence linking him to the crime and suggested Ross Tighe’s credibility was questionable, even proposing he could have been the shooter. The jury deliberated for days before returning a guilty verdict on the murder charges, with a majority finding Young guilty of attempted murder. The case highlights tensions over livestock disputes in rural Queensland and raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Darryl Valroy Young, 63, was found guilty of the murders of Mervyn Schwarz (71), Maree Schwarz (59), and Graham Tighe (35) on August 4, 2022, at his Shannonvale Station property in Bogie, near Bowen, Queensland.
- Ross Tighe, Graham Tighe’s brother, was shot in the stomach during the incident but survived and escaped in a ute, later flagging down help.
- The trial took place in the Townsville Supreme Court, beginning on August 10, 2026, with a jury of 12 members (two reserve jurors were discharged).
- The victims were lured to Young’s property under the pretense of settling a dispute over stolen calves, with Young accusing them of stealing and selling his livestock.
- Young was also charged with attempting to kill Ross Tighe, and the jury returned a majority verdict of 11 to 1 finding him guilty of that charge.
- The shooting occurred at approximately 8:00 AM on August 4, 2022, near the gate of Shannonvale Station, with rifle cartridge casings of .30-30 calibre found at the scene.
- Young pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his defence argued there was 'not one trace of scientific evidence' linking him to the crime.
- Ross Tighe testified that he witnessed the shooting and saw Young retrieve a rifle before firing, killing three people and wounding him.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Young was dubbed the 'Beast of Bogie' by media.
- Ross Tighe described running and falling 'five, six times' while fleeing the scene.
- Young’s defence claimed he had a 'good relationship' with his neighbours before the incident.
- Shannonvale Station’s entrance features three padlocks on a thick chain, a 'no trespassing' sign, and a 'legal notice' from the sovereign citizen movement warning of a $10,000 minimum penalty for unauthorized entry.
- Trail cameras were tied to the gate at Shannonvale Station, with a 'smile you're on camera' sign present.
- Ross Tighe fixed the clock in the LandCruiser ute to arrive at Young’s gate just before 8:00 AM on August 4, 2022.
- Young told Ross Tighe, 'I won’t shake your f***ing hand,' and demanded the family return stolen calves within two weeks.
- Wind farm workers identified Young as being at his property about half an hour before the shooting, at approximately 7:30 AM.
- Defence lawyer Anthony Kimmins suggested Ross Tighe could be the 'murderer' and questioned his credibility, including his past violent behavior and cannabis use.
- Kimmins argued Ross Tighe’s injury was described as 'shrapnel,' implying it could not have come from a .30-30 rifle, suggesting a second gun may have been involved.
- Ross Tighe’s partner, Caitlin Jordan, recounted Young’s demand for a meeting over the phone the night before the shooting.
- The jury deliberated for 15 hours over three days before returning a unanimous guilty verdict on the three murder counts and a majority verdict on the attempted murder charge.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- 7NEWS states the jury returned a majority verdict of 11 to 1 on the attempted murder charge, while ABC reports the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on that charge and required further deliberation.
- ABC notes that Young’s defence claimed the ammunition found in his home was not his, while 7NEWS does not explicitly mention this claim.
- ABC describes Ross Tighe’s injury as potentially caused by 'shrapnel,' implying it may not have come from a .30-30 rifle, while 7NEWS does not mention this detail.
- ABC includes a specific time of 8:07 AM for the alleged shooting, while 7NEWS and other sources refer to it as occurring at 8:00 AM.
Source Articles
Darryl Young: Queensland farmer found guilty of shooting murders
A farmer had gone on trial accused of shooting dead his neighbours and attempting to kill a fourth.
Triple-murderer Darryl Young previously jailed for cattle theft
North Queenslander Darryl Valroy Young who murdered three neighbours after accusing them of stealing his calves had previously been jailed for cattle duffing.
Judge tells retiring triple murder jury to consider if survivor truthful
A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a Queensland grazier accused of a triple murder and an attempted murder.
Breaking: Grazier guilty of murdering neighbours at farm gate, jury finds
North Queensland grazier Darryl Valroy Young has been found guilty of a triple murder at Bogie in 2022.
Lawyer tells court triple murder survivor could be the killer
A lawyer tells the jury in the trial of Darryl Valroy Young that the acts his client stands accused of could have been committed by the man the prosecution says is the sole eyewitness.
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