Arabic version: شاهد يدلي بشهادته في محاكمة جريمة القتل الثلاثي في بوغي

According to ABC News, Ross Tighe told the Supreme Court in Townsville that he witnessed the shooting of three family members and was himself shot during the alleged incident at Shannonvale Station on August 4, 2022. Queensland cattle farmer Darryl Valroy Young, 63, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Prosecutors allege Young killed his neighbour Graham Tighe, Graham’s mother Maree Schwarz and stepfather Mervyn Schwarz with a rifle. He is also charged with the attempted murder of Ross Tighe, who survived a gunshot wound. The jury trial is expected to run for three weeks.

Giving evidence by video link from a Mackay courtroom, Ross Tighe said his family travelled in two utes to meet Young at the gate of Shannonvale Station. He said there was a tense exchange, during which Young allegedly refused to shake Mervyn Schwarz’s hand, retrieved a rifle from the back seat of his ute and began firing. Tighe told the court he saw Mervyn Schwarz shot in the face, Graham Tighe on the ground near the utes, and Maree Schwarz wounded.

Ross Tighe said he ran downhill after being shot in the stomach and hip, fell several times and later heard two more gunshots. He testified that he returned to the gate after about 10 minutes, drove away in another vehicle, found help and was flown by rescue helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital. He also said Young had accused Graham Tighe of stressing cattle and, on the morning of the alleged shooting, accused the family of stealing calves. Ross Tighe denied cattle had been galloped, calves had been stolen, or that his family members were armed. Defence lawyer Anthony J Kimmins began cross-examining him, with questioning set to resume on Wednesday.