Jonathan Wright sentenced to life after jury returns guilty verdict after Toowoomba Supreme Court murder trial

A regional Queensland truck driver who mowed down a man with his car in broad daylight on the Toowoomba range has been sentenced for the murder of beloved Brisbane father Paul Sia.

Rockville man Jonathan Wright (pictured) has been found guilty by a jury of the murder of Brisbane man Paul Sia.

“Oh s--t.”

Those were the words a regional Queensland man exclaimed when he was told a jury was ready to return and deliver his verdict after a four-day murder trial.

An hour later Jonathan Wright, 48, was sentenced to life in jail for the murder of Paul Sia, who he mowed down with his car on the side of a busy highway near Toowoomba on November 20, 2022.

Mr Sia, a beloved father of two, lost consciousness at the Toowoomba Hospital emergency department and died in hospital on December 3.

The truck driver found guilty of his murder, who grew up in St George, will be eligible to apply for parole when he is a 68-year-old after having served 20 years in jail.

During the trial at the Toowoomba Supreme Court in February, Wright gave evidence, telling the court Mr Sia had been his friend for about a year.

Jonathan Wright.

He said their relationship went south on the day of the hit and run at Withcott, about 118km west of Brisbane along the Warrego Highway, after a major drug deal went wrong.

Wright alleged Mr Sia stole $40,000 of money from him, which was someone else’s, prompting him to pressure the man in his large utility vehicle.

After speeding and weaving through traffic for 13 minutes from Toowoomba to Withcott, Wright said he ran Mr Sia’s car off the road in an attempt to pin the vehicle against a fence and trap him inside.

He said he didn’t see Mr Sia get out of the smashed-up car he deliberately crashed into, pushing it off the road.

However, dash camera footage from a passing truck driver showed that Wright performed a U-turn on the busy highway before lining Mr Sia up, and running directly over him.

All of the money was never recovered, however Wright said he collected $17,000 from the crash site.

Another man who was in Mr Sia’s car during the ordeal took to the witness stand during the trial and said he had no memory of what occurred.

Graceful forgiveness

Two victim impact statements were read to the court from Mr Sia’s family members.

His oldest sibling and only sister, Eterei Alofa Fetuleau, told the court her brother was not perfect, no one was, but “at his core, Paul was a family man through and through” who had a deep love for his twin boys.

She said he was a good person who was a talented artist who loved to have a good time and make music and write songs.

“We miss Paul very much,” she said.

She said her family had been deeply affected by the trauma of losing Paul in such a way, but his murder was particularly difficult for their mother.

Although the trial was painful to sit through, Ms Fetuleau said she made a choice when her little brother died and was steadfast to carry it through.

“I came into this week … with my position and my heart set that I forgive you, Jonathan,” she said.

“Forgiving you doesn’t mean excusing your intentions or actions that day … rather forgiving you helps my family and it helps me to move forward in life and enjoy life.”

She told him that the truth would set him free and to forgive her brother for anything he may have done to him.

“I pray you find peace and I hope you hear how … (we) forgive you and the grace we extend.”

Robert Sia, who was hospitalised with stress and grief after breaking down at his little brother’s hospital bedside, echoed his sister’s sentiment about forgiveness.

He said his 10-year-old nephews did not deserve to lose their loving father, his mother a son, and his siblings a brother.

“No amount of anger to Mr Wright will bring Paul back,” he said.

And although he may forgive the man, he will never forget his name.

“Paul was and still is, a very loved person,” he said.

Extreme brutality

Crown prosecutor Ben Jackson said the family’s words were acts of grace.

“Mr Wright’s conduct to Mr Sia was ruthless, it was brutal, and it was callous,” he said.

“He showed no mercy. He stood next to Mr Sia’s injured body and collected cash off the ground.

“This was a murder of extreme brutality in its nature.”

Jonathan Wright.

The court was told Wright had a three page criminal history, however it was free of violent offending, except for a serious incident where he stalked and threatened someone.

Barrister Douglas Wilson, instructed by Jag MacDonald, said Wright first worked for his father building and servicing coal rooms in St George before they relocated to Brisbane and started a family business exporting seafood.

After spending three years on a commercial fishing vessel, Mr Wilson said Wright worked as a used-car salesman at Moorooka before becoming a dealer principal at Zupps at Capalaba for several years.

Mr Wilson said Wright then took up truck driving for several years, which is when he became addicted to methamphetamine, however he completed a number of courses while in prison which included substance abuse programs.

He also completed a certificate two in Applied Fashion Design and Technology.

While in prison, he said Wright’s longstanding prostate issues needed treatment, however he was in relatively good health.

Mr Wilson agreed with the Crown’s submission that the mandatory minimum of 20 years in custody was within range for the crime.

Sentence

Justice Thomas Bradley told Wright he intended to kill Mr Sia, or at least seriously injure him, while using his Holden Rodeo as a weapon.

“It was in no way an equal match between you and Mr Sia,” he said.

“You were driving a two-ton vehicle with a bulbar, he was standing on the side of the road … in just shorts and a T-shirt.”

Justice Bradley told Wright his actions not only affected Mr Sia’s family and friends but also the first responders and members of the community who rushed to the 33-year-old’s aid.

“For the murder of Paul Sia I sentence you to imprisonment for life,” he said.

After the guilty verdict was read Wight was asked if there was anything he wanted to say.

“I just I want to say sorry to the Sia family, I didn’t mean to kill your son. I’m sorry.”