Jobling guilty of chilling murder

SUZANNE Standing’s family yesterday said justice had been served nearly five gut-wrenching years after she was brutally murdered.

Scott Jobling was handed down a life sentence for his part in the murder.

SUZANNE Standing's family yesterday said justice had been served nearly five gut-wrenching years after she was brutally murdered.

Her brother Michael Standing described the life sentence for her former partner Scott Jobling as a huge relief.

He said the family could now get on with the rest of their lives.

It took a jury just two hours to decide Jobling was guilty of ordering the 2005 murder of Miss Standing.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no condition set for a minimum parole period.

As the verdict was delivered about 11.30am at the Supreme Court in Mackay yesterday, Jobling's parents sat quietly at the back of the courtroom.

They left quickly and declined to make any comment.

Miss Standing, Jobling's ex-partner and mother of his young son, was viciously attacked at her North Rockhampton home as she left to go to her job selling flowers on the night of August 5, 2005.

Her body was found early the next morning by her boyfriend. She had been strangled, stabbed and punched.

Their son was five years old at the time.

Justice Kerry Cullinane said it was a “chilling case”.

He said the murder fell into a category of its own as a young man was persuaded to kill someone.

The Crown's case was based on the premise that Jobling procured Miss Standing's murder by convincing his friend Beau Hinschen, who at the time was a 20-year-old university student, to carry out the killing.

Hinschen was convicted by a jury in Rockhampton last year of Miss Standing's murder.

The 15-person jury was sent to deliberate about 9.25am after a nine-day trial.

Jobling's sentence will be shortened by 915 days, the period which he spent in custody between August 2005 and February 2008.

Mr Standing said the family had waited a long time to get justice.

“There's a huge feeling of relief. A great burden has been lifted and we can now get on with living the rest of our lives,” Mr Standing said.

“We can put this behind us.”

He said there were times during the past five years when he wasn't confident Jobling would be found guilty.

“I did think there was a chance he might get off and we wouldn't get justice.

“All I can say is that justice was served and this has helped ease the burden so we can move on.”

After yesterday's decision one of Miss Standing's closest friends, Sandra Thynne, also said justice had been served.

Miss Standing's sister had called Sandra with the verdict.

“My feelings are that we have justice at last.

“It's been roughly five years and taken a huge toll on all the family and friends of Suzanne.

“And that's not to mention there is a little boy who has lost his mum.”

She said there had been times she worried Jobling would walk.

“Thankfully that's not the case.

“Suzanne had a huge circle of friends.

“There will be a lot of happy people.”

Originally published as Jobling guilty of chilling murder