Man ‘sorry’ for role in botched robbery that ended in woman being shot as she slept

A group’s botched robbery ended in a woman being fatally shot as she slept in a shipping container on a rural property, a court has been told.

A man charged with killing a Queensland mum who was shot dead as she slept in a shipping container has told the woman’s family he is “sorry” for his actions.

Megan Kirley’s death had a “devastating” effect on her family, but it has taken almost three years for the five people involved in killing her to face justice.

On Thursday at Brisbane Supreme Court, Geoffrey Dale Granz Glenn was the last of the five offenders to learn his fate over the senseless shooting.

Dressed in a crumpled grey suit and wearing a face mask, the 35-year-old said nothing and occasionally looked down during proceedings.

But towards the end of his sentencing, he stood up and apologised to Ms Kirley’s family.

“In jail I’ve reflected on it a lot … it’s better for it to come out of my mouth,” Granz Glenn told the court.

Megan Kirley was shot dead at property in Karawatha, south of Brisbane, as a group attempted to rob her and her partner of drugs and money.

“I wanted to formally apologise to the family for any of the troubles this incident has caused.

“I wanted to send my regards to the family and my deepest apologies and remorse.”

Granz Glenn, 35, along with four others – Cameron Lindsay Witoko, Emma Louise Hinds, Kobi Daniel Oram and Stafford Emmerson – were charged over Ms Kirley’s death.

Earlier this year, Granz Glenn pleaded guilty to Ms Kirley’s manslaughter.

Ms Kirley died from a fatal gunshot to her neck on February 9, 2019.

The court was told Granz Glenn and the other co-accused arrived at a property in Karawatha, south of Brisbane, on the night of the killing.

Granz Glenn drove one of the cars, a red Ford Falcon, to the location.

Ms Kirley and her partner Pieter Pickering were sleeping in a shipping container located on the property.

Crown prosecutor Aleksandra Nikolic said the group intended to rob the pair of money or drugs.

The court was told Dale Granz Glenn did not possess any weapons and did not discharge the firearm that killed Ms Kirley (pictured).

Emmerson was carrying a rifle, while Witoko was armed with a meat cleaver.

Mr Pickering armed himself with a pair of wooden nunchucks upon hearing the group arrive and “circle” the shipping container.

Ms Nikolic said Mr Pickering swung the weapon at the door when members of the group tried to enter.

The gun went off simultaneously, with the stray bullet hitting Ms Kirley.

The group then fled the property and Granz Glenn drove them all to their homes.

“The defendant is to be sentenced on the basis he formed a common intention to rob the occupants of money and drugs while armed,” Ms Nikolic said.

Ms Nikolic explained that Ms Kirley’s unlawful killing was a probable consequence of the group’s common purpose for the robbery.

Granz Glenn’s defence barrister Carl Martinovic said his client had a “prejudicial” upbringing, turning to drugs and developing post traumatic stress disorder.

Granz Glenn was not carrying a weapon at the time and did not fire the gun, Mr Martinovic said.

Judge Frances Williams reserved her sentence to consider the material.

Earlier this year Oram, Hinds and Witoko were each jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

A Supreme Court jury found Emmerson not guilty of Ms Kirley’s murder but guilty of manslaughter. He was also jailed for nine years.