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Judge lashes brothers who bulldozed Murtoa home in feud

A judge has told two idiot brothers the world was “laughing at you for your stupidity” after they filmed themselves bulldozing the family home to ruin their sister’s inheritance.

Brothers destroy family Murtoa house over sibling feud

A judge has lashed two idiot brothers who bulldozed their mum’s house in a family feud, telling them the world was “laughing at you for your stupidity”.

Malcolm and Garry Taylor were each fined $10,000 in Victoria’s County Court after they pleaded guilty to hiring an excavator and destroying their late mother’s Murtoa property a day before it was headed to auction, in March 2019.

The pair claimed they were doing “renovations” when they filmed themselves on a 30-minute rampage, tearing down walls and rolling a water tank down the town’s streets.

They laughed continuously as they demolished their mother’s home, with Malcolm screaming “charge!” as he smashed the excavator bucket through the walls and windows.

They even took “selfies” inside the totalled house.

The bizarre bulldozing came after Malcolm, now 57, told the real estate agent that their sister Kerrie, who was executor to the estate and held a one-third share, wouldn’t “get a cent”.

The pair filmed themselves on a hired excavator, ripping down the house.
The pair filmed themselves on a hired excavator, ripping down the house.
The brothers destroyed the family home. Picture: Supplied
The brothers destroyed the family home. Picture: Supplied

In sentencing, Judge Michael Cahill said: “Your senseless rampage has drawn national and international press coverage.”

“You were laughing while you destroyed your and your sister’s inheritance,” he said.

“Now, the world is laughing at you for your stupidity.”

READ THE JUDGE’S FULL SENTENCING REMARKS HERE

Judge Cahill said their crimes were “more than a spontaneous prank” — they’d travelled from their homes in QLD and hired an excavator to commit $130,000 damage to the property just before it was going to be sold.

The house — originally sold for $99,000 before the interested party pulled out due to water damage — later earned just $7,500.

Documents reveal it was the brothers’ own mobile phone footage, where they recorded each other as they took turns on the excavator, that police relied on to charge them.

The court also heard Garry, 59, had run an excavator business in QLD before he retired.

Judge Cahill said if it wasn’t for the brothers’ guilty pleas to theft and criminal damage, he would have sentenced them to eight months in prison.

Malcolm Taylor pushes a water tank down the streets of Murtoa.
Malcolm Taylor pushes a water tank down the streets of Murtoa.
Garry Taylor filmed his brother during the stunt.
Garry Taylor filmed his brother during the stunt.

Malcolm was fined a further $1,000 for breaching bail, for travelling to Victoria for the Murtoa footy club reunion in mid-2019 following his charges for the property damage.

He was also convicted for having 8g of cannabis when AFP arrested the pair in a raid at an airport hotel the morning after the demolition.

They’d cracked a few beers at the MCG the night before, posting on social media they’d had a “hard day’s renovating”.

The duo, appearing via video link in Hervey Bay district court, stood after the matter was adjourned, with Garry heard whispering “f---ing hell” to his lawyer.

“Don’t say anything until we get out,” came the prompt reply.

ashley.argoon@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/judge-lashes-brothers-who-bulldozed-murtoa-home-in-feud/news-story/7ec28d2239e12e135283694d56d8fb0f