Accused triple killer Darryl Valroy Young makes second application for bail in Townsville Supreme Court

A man accused of shooting three people dead will remain behind bars until his trial, after his second bail application which focused on alleged prosecutorial “lies” was rejected by a Townsville judge.

Darryl Young is accused of killing three people and shooting another in 2022

A man accused of killing three people in cold blood and shooting another has made a second and ultimately “fruitless” application for bail, where he accused two crown prosecutors of lying.

Accused triple-murderer Darryl Valroy Young, 62, is accused of gunning down Mervyn and Maree Schwarz along with Maree’s son Graham Tighe after a dispute at Bogie on August 4, 2022.

Maree’s other son, Ross Tighe allegedly witnessed the horror shooting and survived a life threatening gunshot wound before escaping and calling for help.

Mr Young appeared in Townsville Supreme Court on Thursday before Justice Christopher Johnston for his second application after his first application was refused in January by Justice David North.

Instead of outlining why his continued custody was unjustified, he focused on what he characterised as “lies” by Crown prosecutors David Nardone and Monique Sheppard, pointing to minor discrepancies in earlier submissions.

Bogie shooting victims Maree and Mervyn Schwarz Picture Supplied

One issue raised by Mr Young concerned a mistake in which Mr Nardone had referred to Ross Tighe being shot in the back, when the wound was in fact to the side of his abdomen.

Justice Johnston noted the error had already been clarified in earlier proceedings and was not material to the question of bail.

“In his written statement, Mr Ross Tighe theorises that the round that struck Mr Graham Tighe in the back is one that possibly struck him in the abdomen,” Justine Johnstone said.

“Mr Graham Tighe was, it appears, shot first in the back before being shot in the head.”

Mr Young also alleged Ms Sheppard had lied by suggesting Mr Tighe overheard a phone conversation the night before the alleged offences.

Graham Tighe - the son of Maree Schwarz who with her husband Mervyn died from gunshots wounds, in a mass shooting in Bogie, central Queensland on 04/08/2022

Justice Johnston rejected this, finding it to be no more than a “mischaracterisation” of the evidence, as Mr Tighe had been aware of the conversation but had not heard it personally.

Two additional matters raised by Mr Young related to an administrative error involving the names of two stations—Sutherland and Shannonvale—and his interpretation of a statement made by Mr Tighe in a separate civil affidavit.

Mr Young argued it was inconsistent for Mr Tighe to state he had been shot at Sutherland Station, as the homestead was more than 20 kilometres away from the incident location.

Justice Johnston explained that the reference to Sutherland Station encompassed the entire property, not a single point within it.

The son of Mervyn and Maree Schwarz who were murdered in Collinsville 2022, along with step brother Graham Tighe. He is enduring a lengthy legal process to see justice done for his family. (He is wearing the same clothes as he has worn to every court hearing - plans to burn them including cap and shoes as a symbolize of the end of a chapter) - 18th October 2025 - pic David Martinelli

In refusing bail, Justice Johnston referred to a 1989 decision where Justice Bruce Harvey Macpherson stated a second bail application would “prove fruitless” unless supported by newly discovered evidence or a material change in circumstances.

Justice Johnston found that Mr Young had provided “no new facts” and had “persisted with an accusation of a lie which is clearly baseless”.

Bail was refused, and Mr Young was remanded in custody.

The murder case has suffered significant delays due to Mr Young changing lawyers six times, Mr Johnstone noted.

However it is currently set down to begin on August 10, 2026 and is expected to run for four weeks.

No pleas have been entered.

Originally published as Accused triple killer Darryl Valroy Young makes second application for bail in Townsville Supreme Court