Fence-row neighbour Darren Lorke gets life for murdering ‘caring, loving’ man at Tungkillo
A man who fatally stabbed his neighbour after a months-long “obsessional” dispute over stormwater drainage and chicken wire fencing will serve at least 19 years behind bars.
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A man who fatally stabbed his neighbour after a months-long “obsessional” dispute over stormwater drainage and chicken wire fencing will serve at least 19 years behind bars.
The Supreme Court on Monday jailed Darren Lorke for life with a 20-year non-parole period for the 2017 murder of Kevin Skeyhill.
In sentencing, Justice Michael David said the crime should never have happened.
“There was obviously animosity, over a number of months, between the two of you,” he said.
“The attitude of both of you, I find, became obsessional.
“This was an unnecessary death which should never have happened … the build-up and animosity has led to these consequences.”
Lorke, 53, stabbed Mr Skeyhill, 51, in the heart over stormwater run-off.
Angry that Mr Skeyhill’s water ran onto his property, Lorke dug a ditch on his neighbour’s property.
Mr Skeyhill responded by digging up a section of Lorke’s lawn and throwing dirt on his roof, and the men also scuffled over their chicken wire fence.
On the night of his death, an intoxicated Mr Skeyhill went on to Lorke’s property — he responded with a camouflage-painted air rifle, an 18cm knife and violence.
On Monday, Lorke listened from the dock as Mr Skeyhill’s family gave victim impact statements outlining their devastation at his loss.
His son, Nicholas, said he would never see his “beautiful, loving father again” because of Lorke.
“My father was the most funny, down-to-earth, caring and empathetic man I had ever met,” he said.
“Darren, you know what you did … there’s not a remorseful or empathetic bone in your body … I will never forgive you for taking him away from me and my family.
“Your manipulative ways should not be allowed in society.”
Mr Skeyhill’s daughter, Marlee, mourned the loss of her father’s “strong arms, heavy footsteps” and devotion to his grandchildren.
“I believe I’m still in a state of shock … his death it haunts me every day of my life,” she said.
“It’s set like concrete, like a cancer in my heart.”
Prosecutor Mark Norman SC urged Justice Michael David to sentence Lorke to more than the mandatory 20-year minimum non-parole period.
“Bad blood and hostility explains (this), but it can never be said such a neighbourly dispute could substantially mitigate the offence of murder,” he said.
“To suggest coming over a fence could justify what took place would be wrong.”
The trial heard Lorke performed CPR on Mr Skeyhill after the stabbing — Mr Norman said little should be made of that.
“He was acting in desperation, trying to avoid the consequences of what he had done,” he said.
“Performing CPR doesn’t mean you didn’t mean to put a knife through another man’s chest bone and into his heart.”
Greg Mead SC, for Lorke, insisted his client had “done all he could” to save his neighbour, who he had “never intended” to harm.
He repeated Lorke’s claim at trial — rejected by the jury — he had acted in self-defence, but said he was “sorry for what happened to Mr Skeyhill”.
In sentencing, Justice David noted Lorke’s decision to call triple-0 and attempt CPR after the stabbing.
“It’s clear, at that stage, you immediately regretted what you did,” he said.
“That behaviour is laudable, and shows your remorse, but it’s not behaviour that amounts to a reason to shorten your sentence.
“I find you had a clear intention to cause Mr Skeyhill very serious harm, but short of an intention to kill.”
He reduced Lorke’s non-parole period by a further 12 months to account for time in custody and on bail.
Outside court, Nicholas Skeyhill said his family was pleased with the sentence “but there’s no real winners”.
“It’s a lot of weight off our shoulders, and we’ll just try to rebuild now,” he said.
“Lorke tried to bring my dad’s good name to the ground (during the trial).
“It just shows who he really is – no empathy for anyone, no remorse.”
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