Zane Lincoln to be deported to NZ after Federal Court upholds visa cancellation

A man who was jailed for manslaughter for his role in the abduction of a Queensland man will be kicked out of the country, losing an appeal that he not be deported to New Zealand.

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

One of the men convicted of killing Timothy Pullen will be kicked out of the country after losing a bid to remain in Queensland.

Zane Tray Lincoln, who was jailed for 11 years in May 2016 for the manslaughter of Mr Pullen, will be deported to New Zealand following a ruling by the Federal Court of Australia today.

Lincoln did not kill Mr Pullen but orchestrated his abduction from a Mackay unit in April 2012 over a drug debt he owed to Odin’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

In the lead up to the ninth anniversary of Mr Pullen’s death, his mother Leanne Pullen told The Courier Mail that the Federal Court’s decision was one piece of “positive” news for their family.

Timothy Pullen with his mum Leanne Pullen.

“We’ve been robbed of Tim so that’s a small price for him to pay live in New Zealand,” Ms Pullen said.

“At least he still has his children, we don’t have Tim.

“I’m not normally that kind of person who is happy for someone else’s unhappiness but under these circumstances...

“He was the ringleader and even if he didn’t dispose of Tim, you can’t tell me someone convicted of such a heinous crime wouldn’t know where his body was.”

Mooloolah Valley man Zane Tray Lincoln is charged with the murder of Timothy John Pullen in Mackay in April 2012. Picture: Darryn Smith / Sunshine Coast Daily

Lincoln, who is serving his time in the Maryborough Correctional Centre, was eligible for parole in July 2018, but lost his bid for freedom under Queensland’s “no body, no parole” law.

Introduced in 2017, the law means convicted killers are not eligible for parole unless they disclose the locations of their victims.

Lincoln argued to the parole board that he did not know where Mr Pullen’s body was dumped.

He claimed offsiders Luke Shayne Kister and Stephen Dale Renwick – who were jailed for disposing of the body – covered Mr Pullen plastic, and logs and then burnt him.

The Minister Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman revoked Lincoln’s temporary visa in February 2020 after finding he did not meet the “character test”.

“I find that the Australian community could be exposed to significant harm should Mr Lincoln reoffend in a similar fashion,” Mr Coleman said in his decision.

“I could not rule out the possibility of further offending by Mr Lincoln.”

Lincoln argued against the revocation of his visa submitting that he had been in Australia since the age of 15 and his two children and immediate family were all based in Queensland.

Lincoln filed an application to the Federal Court of Australia in March 2020.

The court today dismissed Lincoln’s application which means he will be deported upon his release from prison.

Lincoln’s full time release date is July 18, 2024.