Greg David McLellan sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of murdering Matthew Joyce

The family of a man who was fatally stabbed by his roommate in a “savage” murder has shared the heartbreaking details that followed the beloved father’s death, as his killer was sentenced.

Greg McLellan was found guilty of the murder of Matthew Joyce. Picture: Facebook

A mother broke down in tears in court as she shared the gut-wrenching moment she found out her “baby boy” had been killed by a person he deemed a friend as that killer was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Greg David McLellan sat across from the woman in Townsville Supreme Court on Thursday after he had just been found guilty by jury of murdering her son and beloved father, Matthew Joyce.

On a Saturday evening in June 2021 a fight erupted between the men at their Mundingburra home – what the pair fought about exactly remained unknown as the defence’s version of events was ultimately rejected by the jury.

Neighbours heard yelling, before Mr Joyce stumbled out of the front door of the home with blood rushing from his neck.

One woman who lived nearby cradled the man in her arms as she attempted to save his life.

When neighbours asked the dying man who had stabbed him, he simply pointed towards a now 48-year-old McLellan who was standing in the doorway.

Throughout the four-day trial the jury heard the different lies that McLellan told people, which included that Mr Joyce had fallen and that he tried to rob him at knifepoint and he pushed the knife away accidentally stabbing him in the neck.

Those versions were of course all rejected by the jury which Justice David North labelled as “calculated deceit” during the sentence.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Walklate argued throughout the trial that McLellan’s version of events were lies and if it were a matter of self-defence there were “other options open to him”.

Police attend the scene of a fatal stabbing on China St, Mundingburra. Picture: Cameron Bates

He also asked McLellan who took the stand if he was aware of the life-threatening injuries that would occur if someone were injured on the neck or head area, which he had agreed to.

Mr Walklate also pointed out that McLellan had hid the weapon in a loose bathroom tile as he knew it would implicate him of the offence.

Defence barrister Ed Whitton previously argued that his client only lied as he was in a state of panic, and had no reason to harm the man who had welcomed him into his home and who looked after his dog while he was in custody for separate offences.

During McLellan’s sentence, the court heard from Mr Joyce’s family members who described the father as being “kind” and a “big kid at heart”.

“He was my baby boy,” Mr Joyce’s mother said, telling the court she was waiting to go to mass when she found out her son had been killed.

“He was gone too soon.

“He was stolen from us, he was too trusting. He took people in without knowing them.”

Mr Walklate read out impact statements on behalf of the man’s ex-wife with whom Mr Joyce shared children with and she said she “lost her best friend the day he died”.

“All the court cases and adjournments have been the worst,” the letter read.

Mr Joyce’s daughter wrote that he “dearly loved his children”.

“He was known by many to be a big kid at heart.”

Justice North described the murder as a “savage attack on a person who supported you” as he sentenced McLellan.

“You have a background of violence that is disturbing,” he said.

His Honour declared 1317 days the man spent in pre-sentence custody as time already served.

McLellan was sentenced to life-imprisonment for murder.

Originally published as Greg David McLellan sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of murdering Matthew Joyce