Tiahleigh’s father indicted on murder charge

TIAHLEIGH Palmer’s foster father has been indicted in the Supreme Court on a murder charge, bringing the case closer to a possible trial.

Rick Thorburn is accused of killing 12-year-old Tiahleigh at Chambers Flat, in October 2015, allegedly to protect his teenage son from potential prosecution for having sex with the underage schoolgirl.

The Crown presented an indictment for murder and interfering with a corpse at a brief hearing yesterday and the case was adjourned for review to February 16.

Thorburn has not entered a plea to the charges.

His wife, Julene, was sentenced to 18 months in jail earlier this month for perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair’s two sons, Trent and Josh, have also been sentenced to jail.