Zane Tray Lincoln deported to New Zealand after Tim Pullen manslaughter

Tim Pullen’s body has been missing for a decade after he was snatched, stored in a coldroom and dumped in remote bushland. Now one of his killers must leave Australia and his children behind.

Mackay man Timothy Pullen was killed in 2012 and his body never found.

The parents of slain Mackay man Timothy Pullen have “one final hope” as one of the men convicted of killing their son prepares to be kicked out of the country.

Everton MP Tim Mander revealed that wish before the sitting of Queensland parliament on Tuesday afternoon as he announced one of Mr Pullen’s killers, Zane Tray Lincoln, would be deported to New Zealand on Wednesday.

The whereabouts of Mr Pullen’s body has remained a mystery for more than a decade after he was violently snatched from a couch inside a North Mackay unit, stored inside a nightclub coldroom, and dumped in remote bushland towards Collinsville in mid-April 2012.

“The Pullen family have lived in a nightmare for the last 10 years,” Mr Mander said.

“They have been through the courts, they have watched from afar.

“They have lobbied for (the no body, no release) laws and they’ve had success in that particular endeavour.

“The Pullen family has one final hope and that is to know the whereabouts of their son and their brothers’ remains.”

Mackay man Timothy Pullen was killed in 2012 over a $7000 drug debt. His heartbroken family accepted a manslaughter plea in exchange for the killers taking police to where they left his body. But Timothy's body was not there and they are still desperate to find him. Images from Facebook

Mr Mander said Lincoln was the last of the six men involved to be released from jail over the “cruel” attack, death and disposal of Mr Pullen, then 34.

“His release continues the anguish of Tim Pullen’s Mackay family, mum and dad Leanne and Gary and his three sisters: Angela, Sherry and Lisa,” he said.

“(The family) played a large role in the introduction of the no body, no appeal laws and I want to thank them for their work.

“It would be very easy to refer to (them) as ordinary Queenslanders but they are not.

“They are extraordinary people; resilient, courageous and they are fighters.”

Lincoln’s deportation date comes 18 months after the federal court rejected Zane Tray Lincoln’s push to stay because he posed an unacceptable risk to the community.

Timothy Pullen's mum Leanne (pictured with Tim) welcomed a court’s decision to deport her boy’s killer back to New Zealand. Contributed

Pullen‘s remains, dumped in remote bushland towards Collinsville west of Mackay, were never found despite tireless, ongoing efforts by police and his family.

Six people, including Lincoln, were charged over their individual roles in the attack, death and disposal of Mr Pullen, then aged 34.

Lincoln was jailed for nine years in May, 2016, over Mr Pullen’s death plus two years for drug offending, resulting in his Class TY visa issued in 1994 being cancelled.

The 42-year-old New Zealand citizen was initially charged with murder but he had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on day one of the trial.

Mackay man Timothy Pullen was killed in 2012 over a $7000 drug debt. His heartbroken family accepted a manslaughter plea in exchange for the killers taking police to where they left his body. But Timothy's body was not there and they are still desperate to find him. Images from Facebook

Mr Pullen’s mother, Leanne Pullen, had welcomed the Federal Court of Australia’s decision to deport Lincoln on the completion of his sentence.

The court’s judgment published on April 14, 2021, stated the Department of Immigration and Border Protection had advised Lincoln about his cancelled visa in June, 2018 after he failed the “character test”.

Lincoln tried to push back against the decision but the federal court dismissed Lincoln’s application.

The Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group will hold their annual night of recognition at Queensland Parliament House on Wednesday.

“This is a group that no one wants to be eligible for (for) membership,” Mr Mander said.

“These brave people support those that have suffered an unimaginable tragedy and advocate for the rights of victims’ families.”