The family of Steven Murphy, a 38-year-old man who was homeless and murdered in Kudla, near Adelaide, faced his killer, Keith Yandle, in court. Yandle has been found guilty of shooting Murphy on his property in 2023. Throughout the court proceedings, Murphy’s relatives expressed their profound anger towards Yandle, with Sean Murphy, Steven’s uncle, denouncing him as a “heartless pig” and questioning the existence of someone so vile.
Sean Murphy stated, “I couldn’t believe that such a disgusting organism exists,” further expounding that he could not bring himself to refer to Yandle as a man. He expressed a deep desire for Yandle to spend the rest of his life in prison, wishing that he would endure suffering for many years to come, stating, “Death would be too good for him.”
Murphy’s mother also gave a heart-wrenching victim impact statement, revealing her disbelief that she would never see or hug her child again. She lamented the ongoing pain she suffers, stating that two years have elapsed since his death, yet the anguish remains.
In a brief moment in court, Yandle shouted accusations from the dock, claiming the prosecution was misrepresenting his intentions regarding the shooting. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Murphy had been unarmed and was cowering when Yandle shot him four times at close range. After the incident, Yandle buried Murphy’s body under a shed used for growing cannabis plants.
Yandle’s defence lawyer argued that any intent to commit murder was fleeting. He is expected to be sentenced in July. The case has shed light on the tragic circumstances surrounding homelessness and violence, casting a shadow over the loss of a life that was cut so tragically short.