A Queensland man has been jailed for life for the “inexplicable, brutal and senseless killing” of a construction worker more than 26 years ago.
Mark Stephen Murphy wept in the dock before learning his fate for the heinous killing of Gregory Thurlow in 1996.
Murphy, now 61, pleaded guilty to a single count of murder.
Family and supporters of Mr Thurlow packed Brisbane Supreme Court as Justice Peter Applegarth sentenced him to life.
The court was told Mr Thurlow, 26, was picked up by Murphy at a friend’s house after causing a ruckus on October 1, 1996.
Murphy murdered Mr Thurlow by striking him in the head several times with a hammer – a killing described by crown proxjmtzywsecutor Todd Fuller as “inexplicable, brutal and senseless”.
Days later, he buried his body in state forest near Inskip Point.
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