Amigo’s Castle owner Vittorio Stefanato sentenced for the murder of Christine Neilan
The elderly owner of an iconic tourist attraction in Lightning Ridge has been sentenced over the murder of a woman, as her family watched on in court.
Dubbo News
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An elderly man who built a well known tourist attraction in Lightning Ridge has been jailed for at least 13 years for the murder of a woman.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person.
Vittorio Stefanato, 75, appeared in the Supreme Court in Dubbo on Friday to be sentenced over shooting Christine Neilan, aged 39, in the head and hiding her body.
Ms Neilan’s body was found in bushland near Sunflash St and Black Prince Dr — next to the attraction Amigo’s Castle — about 8am on January 9, 2020.
Dozens of Ms Neilan’s family and friends showed their support in the courtroom wearing tribute shirts with an image honouring the Lightning Ridge woman.
Throughout the sentence, family members often left the courtroom in tears while details were being discussed.
The court heard Mr Stefanato shot Ms Neilan in the head after she entered his property and asked him for money, before hiding her body in bushland.
Mr Stefanato initially denied murdering Ms Neilan until October 2021, which was 22 months after the incident.
When Mr Stefanato gave evidence during his sentence on Friday, he broke down in tears and covered his eyes with his hand.
“I was scared for my life,” he told the court.
The court heard he had saved more than $100,000 through the pension and would often give sums of money between $50 to $200 to local community members, even after the murder.
The daughter of Ms Neilan, Julianne Neilan, provided a victim impact statement, telling the court she lost her mother and the grandmother to her two children.
“How was I meant to tell them that we lost the woman who meant the world to us?” Ms Neilan said.
“My heart was shattered, she was the only parent we had left.
“I live with fear every day of something similar happening to me and my children.
“I find it hard to laugh.”
Mr Stefanato’s barrister Nicholas Broadbent said the offender did not plan to kill Ms Neilan and the court should regard it as “mid-range or above mid-range” offending.
The Crown Prosecutor said he accepted the offender’s remorse and regret towards the incident.
Acting Justice Robert Hulme said it was “common practice” for individuals to “bully” the offender for money.
He said the offender did not have a gun license.
The court heard that after the incident, Mr Stefanato indulged in some wine and went to sleep before going to the bowling club.
“He told lies to conceal his guilt,” Mr Hulme said.
In March 2021, Mr Stefanato’s DNA was found and he confessed and was charged with the murder in October 2021.
Mr Hulme convicted Mr Stefanato to 18 years and two months of imprisonment with a non parole period after 13 years and seven months commencing from October 18 2021 and expiring on May, 17 2035.
The victim’s family and friends cheered and shed tears when Mr Hulme read out the sentence, before leaving the courtroom where they applauded the lengthy sentence.
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