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Three men took part in a home invasion to steal drugs or money but instead stole the life of a 22-year-old, causing horrendous, unnecessary pain, a heartbroken mother says.
Nathan John Caulfield, Trent Edward Dyhrberg and Kalabe John Steven Saurine were sentenced to life behind bars on Tuesday after being found guilty of murdering Michael Zanco.
The three went to a shed on a rural property near Gympie, north of Brisbane, in March 2020 planning to steal drugs and or money from Andrew Donney but the alleged drug dealer was not at the property, a Brisbane Supreme Court trial heard.
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Instead the men – one armed with a sawn-off rifle and another with a machete – found Zanco eating fish and chips on the couch while waiting for his housemate to return.
Shortly afterwards, Zanco was shot in the head.
He died the next day after being transported in the back of Caulfield's ute to hospital.
"On that night you three may not have succeeded in stealing drugs and money, however you did succeed in stealing something – you stole a life," Zanco's mother, Cara Trinder, told the men in court on Tuesday.
That night the trio stole her firstborn and only son, and stole a big brother away from his sister.
"You all have caused such horrendous, unnecessary pain and hurt and I ask you again, for what?"
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About a month after his death, the family learned Zanco's application for an apprenticeship with an Audi car dealer had been successful.
"His dream and goal in life of being a mechanic is now lost forever," Trinder said.
The circumstances of what occurred in the room where Zanco was shot were hazy, Justice Peter Davis said in sentencing the men.
But it was clear Zanco was shot at relatively close range by 36-year-old Caulfield with what was probably a .22 calibre rifle.
Davis said it was obvious listening to interviews given by Saurine, 22, and Dyhrberg, 36, that what occurred in the room came as a shock to them.
But the three had committed what is colloquially known as a home invasion on the local drug dealer's house to obtain drugs, he said in handing down mandatory life sentences after jurors reached the guilty verdicts.
"It always had the potential as the jury have found to cause death or harm, very serious harm, to whoever may have been at the house."
The case showed the damage done by drugs, with it being clear during the trial that all three were addicted, Davis said.
Outside court, Trinder said her son was a loving man who had so much to live for.
"For what reason was his life taken?
"There was no reason," she told reporters.
