John Griffin, jailed for manslaughter, was best friends with murderer Liam Humbles

He bashed a pensioner to death before covering his body in candy and birdseed – now it can be revealed this killer was once the best friend of a notorious teenage murderer.

The man who covered a pensioner’s lifeless body in hundreds and thousands was the best friend of notorious teenage murderer Liam Humbles.

Now behind bars himself, John Edward Tilly Griffin’s link to Humbles – who shot and killed Lewis McPherson, 18, on New Year’s Eve, 2012 – can be revealed.

Griffin gave evidence in Mr McPherson’s inquest in 2016, saying he “didn’t really care” that Humbles had a gun or whether he used it to shoot strangers.

Last week, Griffin was jailed for over nine years after brutally bashing 65-year-old Gary Robinson to death at Port Neill in 2022.

During sentencing, the Supreme Court heard on the day of the incident, Griffin, who was living on the same farming property as Mr Robinson, attended his caravan.

John Tilly Griffin outside the Coroners Court in 2016. Picture: Greg Higgs

Liam Humbles being questioned by police.

“A fight ensued and you threw the first punch,” Justice Sandi McDonald said.

Mr Robinson retreated inside his caravan, followed by Griffin.

The court heard Mr Robinson allegedly brandished a knife at Griffin, and made a thrusting motion towards him.

Mr Robinson fell to the caravan’s floor after being attacked, at which point Griffin repeatedly kicked him and stomped on his chest and head.

“At the time of the offence it was likely that you were wearing steel cap boots as this was the footwear you normally wore around the farm,” Justice McDonald said.

John Griffin is now serving a nine-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Picture: Facebook

Mr Robinson was discovered by Griffin’s father on September 3, 2022, and it was apparent he had been dead for some time.

“He had been covered with shampoo, bird seed and hundreds of thousands and had a small knife in his right hand,” Justice McDonald said.

Griffin, 30, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and a charge of murder was dropped as a result.

In 2016, he told the Coroner’s Court he “trusted” and never feared Humbles, even after he had been punched by the teenage drug dealer.

He said Humbles would never have used the gun randomly and would “only shoot people he wanted to shoot”.

Griffin said he was never bothered about the gun, nor would have told police or adults about the weapon.

“Why would I? Besides my family I really couldn’t care less … it pretty much doesn’t matter to me,” he said.

Lewis McPherson, who was killed on New Year’s Eve 2012. Picture: Supplied

When asked if he would be upset about a stranger being shot, he replied: “Depends if I was friends with that person.”

Humbles is serving a life sentence for murdering Mr McPherson and attempting to murder two of his friends at Warradale.

He was drunk and drugged when he shot and killed Mr McPherson on New Year’s Eve, 2012 – they had attended the same school but were not friends.

Last week, Griffin was handed a non-parole period of seven years and five months, backdated to September 3, 2022.