Jury finds Yigit Erdogan guilty of murdering Sydney teenager Justin Tsang

A jury has reached a verdict in the case of a man accused of helping torture a teenager to death with a wrench and cricket bat.

A Sydney man who helped torture a teenager to death in a horrific gang attack has been found guilty of murder.

Yigit Can Erdogan denied killing 17-year-old Justin Tsang at a home in Burwood Heights, but after a month-long trial in the NSW Supreme Court, a jury returned a verdict of guilty on Wednesday.

Yigit Erdogan in the back of a police wagon after his arrest. Picture: Toby Zerna

Erdogan, 22, claimed that while he was involved in the early stages of the attack and disposal of Mr Tsang’s body, he was not responsible for the teen’s death in March 2019.

The court heard Erdogan, also known as John to his friends, met Mr Tsang at an internet cafe and the pair shared Xanax.

After Mr Tsang went to a sharehouse in Burwood Heights, Erdogan claimed the teen took property from people who had been at the house and a dispute about $500 took place.

The house where the murder took place was dubbed a house of horrors afterwards. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

The conflict escalated and when Mr Tsang had later been stripped down to his underwear, Erdogan struck him with a metal wrench, stomped on his head and used a knife to stab him, Crown prosecutor Ken McKay told the court.

Mr Tsang was also attacked with a cricket bat before his body was wrapped in plastic and buried at Wentworth Falls lookout in the Blue Mountains.

A post-mortem revealed he had 25 stab wounds to the neck and a fractured skull.

Justin Tsang was bashed to death. Picture: NSW Police

The court heard Erdogan was the ringleader behind the murder and he made admissions about killing Mr Tsang to housemates and his girlfriend.

In addition to the murder, Erdogan was also charged with detaining Mr Tsang for financial advantage and causing actual bodily harm.

The jury was discharged on the detention count after jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

A sentencing date for Erdogan is yet to be set.

Originally published as Jury finds Yigit Erdogan guilty of murdering Sydney teenager Justin Tsang