New details have emerged about the man police accuse of murdering a respected farming family in far north Queensland.
Darryl Young, 59, has been charged with murdering Mervyn Schwarz, 71, his wife Maree, 59, and their son Graham Tighe, 35, outside their Bogie property, which it bordered the Schwarz farm.
Mr Tighe’s brother Ross was shot in the stomach but miraculously survived after driving more than 40km to a neighboring farm to raise the alarm.
He was taken to Mackay Hospital and underwent emergency surgery on Thursday night.
Police said there was a long-running border dispute between Young and the Schwarzs, who bought the sprawling 30,000ha farm for $10 million last year.
Police said Young, the Schwarzes and the Tighes agreed to meet at the fence of Young’s property in a phone conversation Wednesday evening.
Police will allege Young shot the four victims “execution-style” with a rifle.
Young appears in Proserpine Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
He was charged on Friday with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, after five people were initially arrested.
Young is a long-time Bogie resident who is said to live with his daughter, believed to be in her 20s, outside of Bowen.
He is said to be well known in the farming community, having owned property as far south as Gladstone.
Read related topics: Brisbane