Cairns crime: Shane Thomas Moy sentenced for Manunda manslaughter

A Supreme Court judge came down hard on a man charged over the death of a ‘charismatic’ homeless man who died after being pushed down stairs and kicked.

A MANUNDA man who pushed another down a set of stairs then kicked him repeatedly was sentenced for manslaughter in Cairns Supreme Court on Thursday.

Shane Thomas Moy, 50, pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Keith Williamson at Manunda in April 2020.

He was committed to stand trial in May 2021, but the court heard after reading a prosecution statement he eventually indicated he would plead guilty.

Mr Williamson was admitted to hospital three times in four days before suffering fatal complications from internal bleeding.

His cause of death was ruled as complications from blunt force injury and a delayed spleen bleed, with liver cirrhosis complicating recovery.

Prosecutor Nathan Crane said after being pushed down the stairs, Mr Wilkinson was kicked in the back and abdomen and there was evidence he’d received a blow to the head.

Shane Thomas Moy, 50, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail for manslaughter, with Justice David Boddice not declaring the 783 days he had served in pre-sentence custody as time already served, meaning Moy will effectively spend 10-and-a-half years in jail. Picture: Facebook

Mr Wilkinson’s sister Annastacia MacMillan sobbed as she gave a victim impact statement.

She said her brother was abused as a child and turned to alcohol to cope, developing a severe addiction.

“He was a very much loved human being and family member, despite the way he looked as a homeless man he was very charismatic, he lifted people’s spirits,” she said.

“He was kind and generous and just wanted to make people laugh.

“This has so completely broken me and changed who I am, I wouldn’t wish this pain, grief and fear on my worst enemy,” she said.

She said waiting for a court hearing compounded the family’s grief and trauma and Mr Moy could have pleaded guilty two years ago.

Defence barrister James Sheridan said his client acted in a drunken rage.

Mr Moy was also charged with being armed in company and robbery in company with violence for a home invasion where he hit someone with a meat cleaver.

Justice David Boddice said Mr Moy had a callous attitude after the attack on Mr Wilkinson.

Saying it was gratuitous violence, Justice Boddice sentenced Mr Moy to eight and a half years for manslaughter and did not declare the 783 days he spent in custody as time already served – meaning Mr Moy will effectively serve 10-and-a-half years.

He sentenced Mr Moy for four years for being armed in company and four-and-a-half years for robbery in company with violence.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Shane Thomas Moy sentenced for Manunda manslaughter