Arabic version: عمال مزرعة رياح يدلون بشهاداتهم في محاكمة جرائم قتل بوغي

According to ABC News, wind farm workers told a Supreme Court trial in Townsville they spent time with Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young on the day he is accused of shooting four people at the gate of his Bogie property.

Mr Young, 63, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He is charged with murdering married couple Mervyn Schwarz and Maree Schwarz, and Mrs Schwarz’s son Graham Tighe, as well as attempting to murder Ross Tighe, Graham Tighe’s brother.

Renewable energy workers Liam Parnell and Matt Garbutt estimated they arrived at Mr Young’s property in a ute at about 7:30am on August 4, 2022. The trial previously heard Ross Tighe estimated the alleged shooting occurred after 8am. The workers said that, after meeting Mr Young, they left him at the gate and drove to the homestead before travelling separately.

Mr Parnell said he saw Mr Young again after 8:30am, while Mr Garbutt was shown a video he took at 8:11am and said he saw the farmer more than 10 to 20 minutes later. They said they learned of a shooting after 11am while installing equipment on a ridge with Mr Young, his stepmother and son nearby.

Mr Parnell said police asked the group to remain where they were and requested photographs, including a selfie. Images shown to the jury included people giving a thumbs up, with Mr Young wearing a dark navy shirt. Mr Parnell said Mr Young appeared “relaxed in the ATV” during the afternoon and he noticed no change in his demeanour.

The court also heard from neighbouring grazier Brett Stagg, who said a .30-30 rifle and a .223 firearm went missing during a 2011 house fire. He said the .223 was recovered but the .30-30 was not. Prosecutors have said .30-30 ammunition cartridges were found in Mr Young’s kitchen and work shed, while no firearm capable of discharging those cartridges was found in searches of his dwellings. The trial continues.