CCTV footage reveals extent of alleged ‘cold-blooded,’ father-son murder of Steven Murphy

Police have extensive CCTV footage of the moment a homeless father was allegedly murdered by a former private school captain and his dad, a court has heard.

Mr Murphy was allegedly held under a torch and searched before he was murdered. Picture: SA Police

The moment a “gentle” and “amazing” father-of-two was held under a spotlight and fatally shot in “cold-blood” was caught on video, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, former private school captain Marco Anthony Yandle, 19, and his father Keith Russell Yandle, 46, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with the murder of Steve Murphy.

The father-son duo were arrested last week after police received a tip off about the location of Mr Murphy’s remains and searched a property in Kudla, about 46km north of Adelaide.

Magistrate Justin Wickens on Tuesday heard prosecutors had obtained CCTV footage from the shed where Mr Murphy was allegedly shot – footage that allegedly shows he was defenceless and alone.

Steve Murphy was found buried in an underground bunker. Picture: Facebook

Prosecutors allege that on the night of February 19, Keith and Marco equipped themselves with an illegal firearm and a bat after they suspected an intruder was on the property.

The alleged footage shows a first shot was fired into a shed 60m away from the main house on the property in Kudla – which defence counsel described as a “warning shot” – before Mr Murphy was discovered “huddling in the corner”.

The father and son then allegedly emptied Mr Murphy’s pockets before Keith Yandle allegedly shot him in the head.

Marco allegedly held a torch over Mr Murphy, illuminating him as his father pulled the trigger.

The court heard there was a 10-15 minute gap between the warning shot being fired, and the shot that allegedly killed Mr Murphy.

Prosecutor Lucy Boord KC said the footage showed Mr Murphy’s “cold-blooded execution” after the two accused had already determined he was “defenceless”.

“What some of that footage shows amounts tentatively to a cold blooded execution of an unarmed, vulnerable, defenceless man,” Ms Boord told the court.

“The firearm is allegedly held and discharged by (Keith), however (Marco) is standing and illuminating the victim with a torch as he is shot by his father.”

Mr Wickens asked if Marco’s assistance was required in the alleged murder, to which Ms Boord said he was willingly participating.

“I don’t think it was essential, but he was certainly present, willing to give his assistance and illuminating the victim at the time the shots were fired.”

Marco Yandle allegedly held the torch over Steve Murphy as he was murdered, a court has heard. Picture: Facebook

The football player was a former leader at an Adelaide private school. Picture: Facebook

Defence counsel for Marco Yandle, Sean Nottle, said his client was simply investigating an intruder on his property with his father and argued he was a suitable candidate for bail.

“These two men went to their shed to confront an intruder, first and foremost,” Mr Nottle said.

“It is going to be a real question for the director to be able to establish how (Marco) Yandle has either aided and abetted, or is party to some sort of joint enterprise in which there is the possibility or the foresight on the actions that have been extensively taking place at the hands of his father.

“It’s clear on the footage that at the moment the shots are discharged Mr Yandle senior interacts with Mr Yandle junior to leave the shed, and he does so. (Marco) Yandle’s entire involvement is to be present, to illuminate the scene.”

“And be ready to lend a hand?” Mr Wickens asked.

“There’s no suggestion that he has in fact lent a hand with respect to anything perpetrated against the deceased person,” Mr Nottle responded.

Mr Nottle said it would be on the DPP to prove whether Marco would have helped his father, had he been asked to.

Steve Murphy was found buried in an underground bunker. Picture: Facebook

He was sleeping rough to be closer to his kids. Picture: Facebook

Lifelong friends of Mr Murphy told NCA NewsWire outside court their former Kadina High School friend was a keen motorcycle enthusiast who was just trying to be close to his kids.

“He was a ratbag who could instantly melt you with those eyes,” they said.

“Steve was a quiet, gentle soul who was doing an amazing job raising his kids.

“He was living rough and squatting to try and be close to his kids.

“He will always have a special sport in my heart, and I’ll always remember the fun times we had together.”

Mr Murphy’s former partner Danielle Rogers took to Facebook to share her distress, saying the hardest part was having to tell his children of his passing.

“The hardest part about all this was having to tell my boys that their father is no longer with us,” she wrote.

“We have just lost a big part of us.”

Mr Murphy’s friends described him as “quiet” and “gentle,” with eyes that could “melt”. Picture: Facebook

Supporters of Marco Yandle, who is behind bars charged with the murder of Steve Murphy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Supporters of Marco were silent in court, but hostile towards the media outside.

Mr Wickens dismissed Marco’s application for bail due to the “seriousness of the offence” and his risk of interfering with witnesses.

Both Keith and Marco will remain behind bars to face court again in October.