Trent Edward Dyhrberg in court for domestic violence crimes

A father of two jailed for life for murder was back in court for brutally bashing and strangling his girlfriend a month before shooting Michael Zanco in the head.

A father of two jailed for life for murder was back in court on Tuesday for violently bashing and choking his girlfriend a month before shooting Michael Zanco in the head at Amamoor.

Trent Edward Dyhrberg, 37, was flanked by police as he sat in the dock at Gympie District Court to face charges over the February 2020 assault.

The court was told the bashing was committed one month before Dyhrberg and two co-accused, Nathan John Caulfield and Kalabe John Steven Saurine, murdered 22-year-old Zanco in a home invasion related to a drug deal on March 13, 2020.

Mr Zanco was shot in the head at close range, and died 24 hours after being taken to Gympie Hospital.

Dyhrberg was the only one of the three not armed during the invasion, Gympie District Court heard.

All three were found guilty at trial for murder in September 2023, and each was sentenced to life.

Weeks before the murder, on February 23, 2020, Dyhrberg entered the home of his partner about 4am, while she slept, to confront her.

Trend Edward Dyhrberg, 37, leaves Gympie District Court after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, and choking, both domestic violence crimes.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Andronicus said Dyhrberg woke the woman up and “started asking her questions about whether she had been texting other people and threatened to hurt her if she made any noise”.

He took her phone, then grabbed her around the neck, putting his weight on top of her while she lay on the bed.

“He punched her and headbutted her in the face,” Mr Andronicus said.

She suffered a black eye and swelling to the top of her head from this assault, he said.

When the woman tried to escape, Dyhrberg grabbed her again and started strangling her “with both hands”.

She managed to free herself, jumping up near the window while Dyhrberg continued yelling at her.

When she got back on the bed, Dyhrberg “grabbed her around the neck and got on top of her”.

“She was unable to breathe and she thought she was going to die,” Mr Andronicus said.

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Gympie District Court heard Trent Dyhrberg’s violent assault of his partner happened only weeks before he and two other men murdered Amamoor’s Michael Zanco (pictured) in a 2020 home invasion.

The victim started crying and, when he finally stopped attacking her he “told her to go to sleep on the bed next to him”.

The court heard he continued verbally abusing her the next morning, at which point she left and reported the incident to police.

Dyhrberg was arrested on March 20, 2020.

Dyhrberg’s lawyer said the 37-year-old had a “prejudicial” upbringing, with his father and stepfather each domestically violent.

He left school in Year 9, was diagnosed with Aspergers and started having trouble with alcohol before turning to meth as well.

He was the father of two children, with one of his former partners killed in a car crash in 2009.

Now with “sober eyes” he “regrets everything,” the court heard.

Trend Edward Dyhrberg’s parole eligibility date was extended by six months following his guilty pleas. It is now set at December 19, 2040.

The court heard his criminal history stretched back to 2004, and included three entries for assault occasioning bodily harm, as well as dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.

In February 2024, he was sentenced for his part in a riot while in jail.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said Dyhrberg’s involvement included partly covering up a camera lenses, before eventually making his way to the jail roof where he was “socialising” with the rioters rather than taking part in the mayhem.

Dyhrberg pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, and choking, both domestic violence crimes.

Judge Rosengren sentenced him to two-and-a-half years’ jail, a term which in itself would have no larger impact owing to the life sentence already being served.

She also added an extra six months to his parole eligibility date, which is now set at December 19, 2040.