Murder charge dropped against dad-killer Ethan McPherson

A young Ipswich man who killed a much-loved husband and dad-of-two on his 49th birthday has had the murder charge against him downgraded. Here’s why.

Ethan McPherson was originally charged with murdering David Murphy.

A young Ipswich man who killed his friend’s ex-girlfriend’s dad has had the murder charge against him downgraded by prosecutors.

Ethan Maurice McPherson, 22, of Springfield Lakes faced the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 4 and pleaded guilty to replacement charges of unlawful striking causing death, assault while armed and in company, and unlawful possession of a weapon used to commit an indictable offence.

Prosecutor Philip McCarthy KC said McPherson indicated in September 2021 that he was prepared to plead guilty to a charge of manslaughter but, after communications between his counsel and the Crown about the “contextual circumstances” of the case, it was decided he would plead guilty to the lesser offence of unlawful striking causing death.

McPherson was previously charged with murder, assaults occasioning bodily harm while armed in company, enter dwelling with intent at night while armed, common assault, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon in relation to the events which transpired on October 19, 2019.

The court heard David Murphy, a devoted husband and dad of two, was killed by a then-19-year-old McPherson in a brutal attack involving a gun at Springfield Lakes.

His wife Cinamon Murphy said he was the “most genuine human” whose “word was his bond”. She said on the morning he died, they woke, had breakfast, and spoke about their dreams, plans, and goals.

“We had no idea that we were spending the last hours of our life together,” she said.

“That he had less than 12 hours to live.”

His daughter Julia described him as “my safety, my protection”.

“I deserved more time with him. He deserved more time in general,” she said.

David Murphy with his daughter Julia.

McPherson was known to Julia, then-20, as she was dating his old school friend Kynan Ignacio Vital. She believed McPherson was a “bad influence” on Vital and the couple often fought about their association.

In the hours before the fatal attack, Ms Murphy ended her “tumultuous” relationship with Vital then attended her parents’ Forest Lake home to celebrate her father’s 49th birthday.

When Ms Murphy returned home from the party about 9pm, she found a ute in her driveway and Vital in her bedroom.

The court heard Vital refused to leave Ms Murphy’s home, so she called her father and he indicated he would come over.

He arrived a short time later in a sedan driven by Ms Murphy’s ex-boyfriend Bradley Murchie. The pair saw Vital run from Ms Murphy’s home to the ute already occupied by McPherson.

After a high-speed “cat and mouse chase”, both cars came to a stop and McPherson and Mr Murchie exited their respective vehicles.

Mr Murchie and Vital became involved in a physical assault while McPherson made his way to Mr Murphy, armed with an old-fashioned rifle that had previously been concealed in a bag in the ute.

The court heard McPherson raised the gun at David Murphy and made verbal threats to shoot him.

“Go on, shoot me,” Mr Murphy said.

David Murphy's family leaves the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 4.

Mr McCarthy said McPherson struck the dad-of-two in the face with the butt of the gun, breaking his teeth.

Mr Murphy fell to the ground and his head hit a concrete gutter. He suffered blunt force trauma to the head, fractures to the jaw, lacerations to the face, and other damage “so significant it was not survivable”.

“Next time it will be a bullet,” Mr McPherson said as he walked away.

McPherson and Vital proceeded to assault Mr Murchie before returning to the ute and driving away.

After Mr Murchie picked himself up off the road, he went to Mr Murphy and found him lying face down, not breathing, and bleeding “profusely” from the head.

Emergency services were called but all attempts to revive Mr Murphy were unsuccessful. He was declared dead at the scene about 10.15pm.

The prosecution accepted McPherson did not intend to kill Mr Murphy.

Mr Murphy’s daughter told the court she felt “immense guilt” knowing her dad “died trying to protect me”. She said the pain was “gut-wrenching” and unending, and she had spent days crying until the tears stopped flowing.

McPherson was remanded in custody where he remained until Tuesday, during which time he was allegedly subjected to an attack by men and repeatedly kicked, stomped, and punched in the head.

Kynan Ignacio Vital faced sentence in the Brisbane Supreme Court last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The court heard McPherson suffered significant injuries including to the brain that were at one point life-threatening. He was also allegedly stabbed six times.

The attack is not alleged to be connected in any way to McPherson’s involvement in Mr Murphy’s death.

Defence barrister Patrick Wilson asked Justice Peter Applegarth AM to take into consideration his client’s young age at the time of committing the offence, as well as his early pleas of guilty and the injuries he allegedly suffered in custody.

He said McPherson felt like a different person following the alleged assault in prison and had now developed some insight into his violent past. Members of his family attended court to show their support of him.

Mr Applegarth sentenced McPherson to a head sentence of 8.5 years’ imprisonment for unlawful striking causing death and two years’ imprisonment for each of the lesser offences, to be served concurrently, with parole eligibility from July 29, 2026. The 1263 days McPherson spent in presentence custody until Tuesday was declared time served under the sentence.

Vital, 22, pleaded guilty on December 16 last year to assaults occasioning bodily harm while armed in company and robbery armed in custody for which he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole release and 180 hours community service.

He was originally charged with other offences including murder and unlawful possession of a weapon, but both charges were dropped by prosecutors.