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Guilty: Trio sentenced for home invasion shooting murder

Three men have been found guilty of murdering a 22-year-old who was shot during a violent home invasion. The victim’s mother has detailed her heartache after the verdict.

Michael Zanco, right, died after being shot in the head. Top left is a police officer at the Gympie property where Mr Zanco was shot and bottom left is his mother Cara Trinder.
Michael Zanco, right, died after being shot in the head. Top left is a police officer at the Gympie property where Mr Zanco was shot and bottom left is his mother Cara Trinder.

Three men have been found guilty of the murder of 22-year-old Michael Zanco, who died after being shot in the head during a violent home invasion in March 2020.

Nathan John Caulfield, 36, Trent Edward Dyhrberg, 36, and Kalabe John Steven Saurine, 22, had each pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Zanco who died a day after being shot at a regional Gympie property.

But after a three-week trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court, in which more than 30 witnesses were called, a jury on Tuesday returned guilty verdicts for all three defendants.

Mr Zanco’s mother Cara Trinder told the court her son had been a caring and thoughtful young man liked by all who met him.

Mrs Trinder said Michael had applied for his dream job as an apprentice mechanic with Audi just before he died and his heartbroken family received the letter of offer for the job a month after he was killed.

Michael Zanco’s mother Cara Trinder with her husband Paul outside Brisbane Supreme Court following the guilty verdict on Tuesday. Picture: David Clark
Michael Zanco’s mother Cara Trinder with her husband Paul outside Brisbane Supreme Court following the guilty verdict on Tuesday. Picture: David Clark

“On that night you three may not have succeeded in stealing drugs and money, however you did succeed in stealing something, you stole a life,” she said.

“You took away a human’s life and for what?

Michael Zanco died a day after being shot.
Michael Zanco died a day after being shot.

“And on that night you also stole something from me, you stole my firstborn and my only son, you have stolen a big brother away from his little sister.

“You all have caused such horrendous unnecessary pain and hurt and I ask you again, for what?”

Mrs Trinder said the heartbreak was a heavy burden to carry and the pain never went away.

She said her son loved the countryside and building and fixing things and that he would lend a helping hand to anyone who asked.

The court heard the three offenders had been out partying at a Gympie pub, drinking alcohol and using ice when they ran out of drugs.

They went to commit a home invasion at the home of a man named Donny, a known drug dealer, but when they arrived he was not home.

Trent Edward Dyhrberg.
Trent Edward Dyhrberg.
Kalabe Saurine.
Kalabe Saurine.

They found Mr Zanco at the house on the couch eating fish and chips with a friend.

Caulfield used a sawn-off rifle to shoot Mr Zanco in the head and despite being rushed to hospital, he died the following day.

Justice Peter Davis sentenced the men to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.

Nathan John Caulfield.
Nathan John Caulfield.

“The circumstances of what actually occurred in the room where Michael Zanco was shot by you Caulfield is hazy,” Justice Davis said.

“What is clear is that he was shot at relatively close range with what was probably a .22 calibre rifle.”

The court heard Caulfield had entered the house armed with a gun and Saurine with a machete.

“It was obvious to me whilst listening to interviews given by you Saurine and you Dyhrberg that whatever occurred in the room came as somewhat of a shock to you,” Justice Davis said.

“However the fact remains that the three of you armed, whilst Caulfield was armed with a weapon and you Saurine were armed with a machete, committed what is globally known as a home invasion upon the local drug dealer’s house in order to obtain drugs.

Police comb bushland near the Gympie property where Michael Zanco was shot.
Police comb bushland near the Gympie property where Michael Zanco was shot.

“That was a deeply criminal act. It always had the potential, as the jury have found, to cause death or harm, very serious harm to whoever may have been at the house.”

The court heard all three men had lengthy criminal histories.

“All three of you committed a deeply criminal act which cost the life of Mr Zanco, a 22-year-old man who was obviously loved and cherished by his family and friends and, as we’ve heard, had planned a future where he was to be a mechanic and you have clearly by your actions taken him from his family and taken his life from him.

“This case shows yet again the damage done by drugs. It was clear throughout the trial that all three of you were addicted to drugs.”

Crown Prosecutor Michael Lehane said the potential for death had been obvious when the men stormed the house in search of drugs that night.

“There hadn’t been any provocation by Mr Donny let alone Michael Zanco who was a completely innocent party,” he said.

“This unarmed young man was isolated by the three and shot dead by Caulfield by a bullet shot at close range to the brain.”

Outside court, Mrs Trinder and her husband Paul thanked the Gympie Police and Mr Lehane, saying they were happy with the guilty verdicts.

“He was just a loving young man and he had so much to live for and it was taken away from him

“Everyone loved him.

“For what, for what reason was his life taken, there was no reason.”

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/guilty-trio-sentenced-for-home-invasion-shooting-murder/news-story/61a4bec3defb71f81c35a892f20b29d5