JAILED FOR LIFE
JUDGE SLAMS‘ COLD BLOODED, CALLOUS’ KILLER
THE heart broken family of Gage brook dad Jar rod Leigh Turner gathered at court to hear his killer be sentenced to a life in prison for what the judge described as a “cold blooded and callous” execution-style murder.
THE man who murdered Gagebrook father of two Jarrod Leigh Turner has been sentenced to life in prison for his “cold blooded and callous killing”.
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart, Shannon James Duffy, 32, was sentenced after pleading guilty to the murder of Mr Turner, 22, on April 14 last year, shooting his unsuspecting housemate in the head at close range.
The court heard in the days leading up to the murder, Duffy had pressure put on him to shoot Mr Turner in a way that was not life-threatening, by the same person who had done the same to him.
He agreed, but on April 13, a female friend told him she had been assaulted by Mr Turner — an allegation Justice Michael Brett did not accept as true.
“I’m satisfied after that you decided to kill Mr Turner as an act of retribution," Justice Brett said.
On the night of April 13, Duffy contacted Mr Turner and they met up to drink and socialise in an act the judge said was“a ruse to get Mr Turner to a location to kill him ”.
Duffy and a woman picked the victim up, with a .12 shotgun wrapped in a piece of clothing in the footwell of the car.
About 3.30am, the car pulled over on Colebrook Road in Richmond for the two men tour in ate.
“You retrieved the shotgun, held it close to his head under the ear and shot him before immediately getting back in the car and telling the woman to, ‘f...ing go’,” Justice Brett said.
The court heard a passerby found Mr Turner about two hours later face down with his trousers undone and his genitalia exposed.
“You arrogantly took it on yourself to end the life of this man and deprived a family of a father, son and brother,” Justice Brett said.
“This was a cold blooded and callous killing carried out in the style of an execution.
“You left your victim on the side of the road in a remote location. The only slight mercy was he was not aware of his imp ending fate .”
Duffy, a disability pensioner, had an “appalling” criminal record, the court heard, and had spent much of his adult life in prison for offences involving violence and the use of firearms.
Justice Brett said this case fell within the worst category of murder and Duffy had“little hope for rehabilitation ”. “Your capacity to plan and act as you did suggests an ongoing risk to public safety,” hesaid.
Duffy was sentenced for the term of his natural life, but may be eligible for parole on April 19, 2037, which is 18 years from when he was first taken into custody.
Following the sentence, Mr Turner’s mother, Michelle Bradley, said her son had been the backbone of the family.
“We have relived the nightmare each time we come to court — the sen-ntence Shannon Duffy re-ceived today doesn’t bring my son back home to us or his two boys,” Ms Bradley said.
“Murderers should bee sentenced to life withoutt parole—they’ ve taken a life so they don’t deserve a lifeife either.”
Mr Turner’ s sister Lake is hash a Pearce described him as her bestfriend.