Maryborough killer Joshua Trevor Berrigan appeals 10-year jail sentence
One-punch killer who told victim's family he could 'never forgive himself' launches immediate appeal against 10-year prison term.
A young father sentenced to 10 years jail for a fatal one-punch lodged an appeal one day after he appeared in court.
Joshua Trevor Berrigan, 25, was convicted of unlawful striking causing death following the attack in Maryborough in August 2023, that led to the death of Nathan Isaac McPherson, 43, the following day.
He had pleaded guilty after being arraigned in Brisbane earlier this year and was sentenced in Maryborough Supreme Court before Justice Peter Davis last week.
Mr McPherson died in the Royal Brisbane Hospital on Sunday, August 20, 2023, after the altercation near the intersection of Kent and Richmond Streets about 2.30am on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
Crown prosecutor Chris Cook said about 1am on August 19, 2023, both men had been at Maryborough’s Old Sydney Hotel.
An hour and a half later they were involved in an altercation at the intersection where words were exchanged.
Mr McPherson’s family watched the CCTV footage in which Berrigan was seen delivering a single punch to the head of Mr McPherson, who fell prone on the ground.
Berrigan was then seen leaving the scene while Mr McPherson remained unconscious on the ground.
Mr Cook said Mr McPherson would later be found by a security guard, who called emergency services.
He was transported to Hervey Bay Hospital and then to Brisbane, where his head injuries were found to be unsurvivable.
During the sentencing, the court also heard Berrigan had committed an act of grievous bodily harm 17 months prior to the punch that killed Mr McPherson.
During the sentencing, Berrigan’s letter of apology to Mr McPherson’s family was read out to the court.
He said there were no words to explain how sorry he was for the pain his actions had caused.
“I never in a million years could have thought I would be the person to take a life,” he said.
“I can never forgive myself knowing I am the reason that Nathan is no longer with us.”
Berrigan said he prayed that he could tell Mr McPherson how sorry he was for taking him from his family.
“I really wish I could just go back to that night and shake his hand instead of having a fight,” he said.
Berrigan said he would never forgive himself for walking away that night instead of calling for help.
“I genuinely thought he was going to be okay, because I thought he fell over from being highly intoxicated and lost his footing.
“Obviously this turned out not to be the case.”
He said he did not expect the family’s forgiveness, but he was remorseful from the “bottom of my heart”.
Berrigan was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to serve 80 per cent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
A parole eligibility date was set for April 20, 2032, with 555 days in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.
No documents or information was available regarding the grounds for the appeal, but a court spokeswoman confirmed the appeal had been lodged on October 28, 2025, one day after Berrigan was sentenced.
