SA court places restraining order over Kudla property, owned by Keith Yandle, at which Steven Murphy was allegedly murdered
Prosecutors allege a father and son took a defenceless man’s life here – today, a court has taken their 2ha property away from them.
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Prosecutors have seized control of the 2ha property at Kudla where, they allege, a father and son committed the cold-blooded execution of defenceless man Steven Murphy.
On Monday, the District Court placed a restraining order over 20 Ormsby Rd, Kudla, which is owned by alleged murderer Keith Russell Yandle and his wife, Kathy Yandle.
The order means that neither Keith nor his son and co-accused, Marco Anthony Yandle, can sell or otherwise profit from the property – or use it to cover their legal costs.
The court’s order comes as Mr Murphy’s friends and family prepare to pay their final respects to him at a private funeral on Tuesday.
The last public valuation available for the property was calculated in July 2003, when it sold for $135,000.
In making the order on Monday, Judge Kris Handshin said he was satisfied the charges levelled against Keith warranted the placing of restraints on his primary asset.
“Police attended this property to conduct a search in relation to a missing persons inquiry and the suspected murder of Mr Murphy,” he said.
“During the search, police located a large pit in the rear shed that appeared to have been recently excavated … when it was further excavated, human remains were discovered.
“They were subsequently identified as the remains of Mr Murphy, and a post-mortem confirmed he had sustained three fatal gunshot wounds.
“I am satisfied (Keith) is charged with serious offences, namely murder and disposing of human remains to pervert the course of justice, and will make the restraining order.”
Keith, 46, and Marco, 19, have yet to plead to one count each of murder – they were arrested just days after Mr Murphy’s body was found in a 15m by 15m bunker.
There is no suggestion of wrong-doing by Mrs Yandle.
Prosecutors have alleged Keith fired the fatal shots while Marco shone a torch on Mr Murphy, and that the incident was captured on CCTV.
On Monday, Sean Nottle, for Keith, told the court his client did not consent to the restraining order but also had no standing under state law to oppose it.
Judge Handshin granted the order, noting it applied to Keith’s “interest in the property” – however, the order still prevents the land being sold or otherwise modified.
Also on Monday, in an unrelated case, Judge Handshin issued a restraining order over $506,535 cash seized by police during the arrest of drug trafficker John Nicky Tedesco.
Tedesco, 57, is awaiting sentence having pleaded guilty to multiple counts of money laundering and drug trafficking.
Police recovered the $506,535 from Tedesco’s car, hidden compartments in his garage’s skirting boards and inside the bodywork of his vintage Corvette Stingray.
They also found 13g of meth, 100g of heroin, 50mL of fantasy, 98.1g of cocaine and $7000 worth of cannabis.
Judge Handshin said the “combination” of such vast quantities of drugs and large amounts of cash “in proximity” left him satisfied the money was “an instrument of crime”.
He said he was further satisfied of that fact because Tedesco had pleaded guilty to the offences.
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