Murdered Tia’s foster dad gets life in prison

QUEENSLAND foster father Rick Thorburn will spend at least 20 years in jail for what police have called the ultimate act of betrayal – snuffing out the life of a young girl he was meant to love and protect.

Thorburn has been jailed for life, meaning he’ll spend at least two decades behind bars, for killing his 12- year- old foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer and disposing of her body in a Gold Coast river in 2015.

The 57- year- old murdered the girl who was in his care after his son Trent confessed to having sex with her and became concerned she was pregnant.

Tiahleigh’s badly decomposed body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River, six days after her foster father claimed he’d dropped her safely at school.

In sentencing Thorburn in Brisbane yesterday, Supreme Court Justice David Boddice said his crimes were cold and callous.

“You murdered this defenceless child who relied on you for protection,” he said.

Outside the court, Tiahleigh’s mother, Cindy Palmer, said no amount of jail time would ever ease the pain Thorburn had caused.

“As her mother, no sentence will ever be enough,” she said.

She said Thorburn had killed a beautiful girl with her life ahead of her.

Earlier, Thorburn wiped away tears as he replied “guilty” to charges of murder, interfering with the 12- yearold’s corpse, perjury, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.