Bogie deaths: Darryl Valroy Young’s alleged murder case stalemate

A stalemate in the case against a triple murder-accused who allegedly gunned down three family members at his front gate is now over. Find out how the roadblock was solved.

Darryl Young is charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder over an incident at Bogie on August 4, 2022.

The case against a triple murder-accused, who allegedly executed his neighbours over a property dispute, can move forward now a stalemate between his lawyer and prosecution is over.

Darryl Valroy Young, 59, is charged with the shooting death of Mervin Schwarz, 70, Maree Schwarz, 59, and Maree’s son Graham Tighe, 35, and the attempted murder of Graham’s brother Ross Tighe at Bogie, west of Bowen, on August 4, 2022.

Police allege Mr Young, who appeared in Bowen Magistrates Court via videolink on Tuesday, had invited the Schwarz family for a chat about disputes over borderline and unbranded cattle, and then gunned down with a rifle at close range at the front gate of his property.

Ross Tighe suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and told police he escaped by running and hiding in bushes as shots allegedly continued to ring out – he was able to reach a farm ute and drive about 40km to a neighbouring property to raise the alarm.

Maree and Merv Schwarz (left) and Graham Tighe (top right) all died after a shooting at a Bogie property west of Mackay. Ross Tighe (bottom right) survived a gunshot wound to the stomach after undergoing emergency surgery.

Mr Young is also charged with weapons offences including possessing an unregistered category A weapon (a Breda shotgun), A restricted item (a replica weapon) and tainted property (a category A Winchester rifle).

It is alleged the weapons were found on August 5, the day after the shootings, at Mr Young’s West Euri Rd, Bowen, property.

Defence solicitor Andrew McGuiness, for Mr Young, had been calling for a directions hearing over various delays in relation to the disclosure of material including forensic evidence, a ballistics report and electronic data.

Darryl Young is charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder over an incident at Bogie on August 4, 2022.

The prosecution said attempts had been, and were being made, to track down that material, but Mr McGuiness had argued it was unsatisfactory because there was no time frame for its disclosure.

The matter was listed for March 21 for a court-ordered decision on the matter.

When the case was mentioned the court heard the directions hearing was being replaced by a consent order as there had been some agreement regarding disclosure.

The court heard the final date for all material to be provided was May 3, matters have been adjourned until May 9.