Darryl Valroy Young is charged with the murders of three family members at Bogie

The case against a grazier accused of the shooting murders of three family members over an alleged neighbour dispute has progressed. LATEST.

Maree and Mervyn Schwarz (top left) and Graham Tighe (bottom right) were allegedly gunned down by neighbour Darryl Valroy Young, who is charged with murder. He is also charged with the alleged attempted murder of Ross Tighe (right).

The barrister for a man accused of shooting dead three family members at his remote Bogie property will push to cross examine multiple witnesses as the case moves closer to the supreme court.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard these would include at least five civilians as well as police and expert witnesses such as the forensic pathologist.

Mervin Schwarz, 70, Maree Schwarz, 59 and Maree’s son Graham Tighe, 35 were allegedly shot to death execution-style on August 4, 2022.

More than 15 months later and there has been some progress with the court case against their neighbour Darryl Valroy Young, who is charged with their murders.

The 60 year old grazier, who has been in custody since his arrest, is also charged with the attempted murder of Graham’s brother Ross Tighe who is alleged to be the sole survivor.

He has not entered any pleas to the charges.

Emergency crews were called to the remote property in the early hours that Thursday after reports of multiple casualties following a shooting incident west of Bowen.

Police allege Mr Young had invited the Schwarz family for a chat about disputes over borderline and unbranded cattle, and then shot them at close range with a rifle at the front gate of his Shannonvale property.

Mr Tighe also suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and it is alleged he was able to escape and get to a neighbouring property to raise the alarm.

Mackay Base Hospital where Ross Tighe is being treated after surviving a gunshot wound. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Young is also charged with weapons offences including possessing an unregistered category A weapon (a Breda shotgun), a restricted item (a replica weapon) and tainted property (a category A Winchester rifle).

It is alleged police found the weapons on August 5 2022, the day after the shootings, at Mr Young’s West Euri Rd, Bowen, property.

Because of the nature of the charges this case must be finalised in the supreme court.

When the matter was mentioned in Bowen on November 14 Magistrates Michelle Howard said it had “made slow progress since it came before the court”.

Darryl Young has been in custody since his arrest in August 2022.

“What’s the situation?” Ms Howard said.

Defence barrister Douglas Wilson, who is instructed by Legal Aid Queensland, said he had instructions to seek committal proceedings and the cross examination of multiple witnesses.

Mr Wilson said he was midway through preparing relevant correspondence to prosecution, who will either agree or reject the application.

If it is rejected it will go to a directions hearing where the court will decide if witnesses can be cross examined and within what scope.

Picture of police tape sealing off Shannonvale Rd about 3km from crime scene which saw Mervyn and Maree Schwarz along with Graham Tighe shot and killed and the wounding of Ross Tighe at Bogie, Central Queensland

He told the court he was still reading through the “very large” brief of evidence.

“We’ll be seeking at least five witnesses,” Mr Wilson said, adding there would also be requests to question a number of police officers at the committal process.

“I expect there’ll also be cross examination of some of the expert witnesses … forensic pathologists.”

Mr Wilson told the court the committal hearing would take at least one day, if not more.

Ms Howard said, “Now that the matter is moving I do want to see it keep moving because there have been so many unfortunate delays.”

The case was listed for mention in December when it is expected to be listed for a committal or directions hearing.

Originally published as Darryl Valroy Young is charged with the murders of three family members at Bogie