Ross Tighe, 34, vehemently rejected claims that Darryl Valroy Young, a Queensland cattle farmer accused of triple murder, was never at the alleged shooting scene in Bogie. Mr. Young has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in a Supreme Court trial in Townsville. This legal battle unfolds as a rural family grapples with immense loss, their private lives laid bare.
Mr. Tighe, who stated he was shot and three members of his family were killed in the 2022 incident, faced intense questioning from Mr. Young's defense lawyer, Anthony J Kimmins, on Wednesday. Mr. Young stands charged with the attempted murder of Mr. Tighe and the murder of his brother Graham Tighe, mother Maree Schwarz, and stepfather Mervyn Schwarz. The jury has heard accusations that Mr. Young used a rifle to shoot the four family members when they attended the gate of his Bogie cattle property for a meeting on August 4, 2022. This August marks the fourth anniversary of the devastating event.
The System's Scrutiny
Mr. Kimmins told jurors the accused farmer never saw the Tighes or the Schwarzes, who worked a neighboring cattle station, on that day. He asked jurors to consider whether anyone else had a motive to kill. During cross-examination, Mr. Kimmins directly suggested Mr. Young was never at the gate at the time of the alleged shooting. Mr. Tighe, visibly frustrated, raised his voice. "He was there," he asserted. "Darryl was at the front gate."
The court viewed photographs of the shirt Mr. Tighe wore on the day he said he was shot. A photo of the driver's seat in the car he claimed to have driven while wounded was also presented. Mr. Kimmins questioned the absence of a bullet entry hole on the shirt. He also pointed to the absence of blood in the car. Mr. Tighe offered a direct, unvarnished reply: "Entry holes aren’t really that big — it didn't bleed that much." He also confirmed making a civil claim against Mr. Young for injuries suffered.
Mr. Tighe's personal history became a focal point. The court heard he had a history of drug use. He had been charged with possession of cannabis and MDMA. Charges for obstructing police were also noted. He answered questions about his criminal history but didn't hide his disdain for the line of questioning. "Scraping the bottom of the barrel a bit," he remarked to Mr. Kimmins. Justice Christopher Johnstone warned him against commenting on the defense's strategy. After one of his convictions, Mr. Tighe lost his gun license. He confirmed this but couldn't pinpoint when it happened. Mr. Kimmins pressed further, asking if he ever grew cannabis or assisted anyone to grow it. Mr. Tighe refused to answer, claiming legal privilege.
Personal Lives Exposed
Text messages exchanged between Mr. Tighe and his former partner, whose name remains protected, were also displayed to the court. Mr. Tighe questioned their relevance. "What has this got to do with anything?" he asked. One message from his then-girlfriend read, "I am stressed about having no money." Mr. Tighe explained, "We were trying to save more money." The court was shown Mr. Tighe’s tax return from 2021-22. It stated he had earned $35,688 over 12 months, with the majority of this income derived from his family’s business. Further messages between the couple made mention of physical violence and a domestic violence order. Mr. Tighe denied he had been physically violent towards the woman. He also denied that a DVO had ever been placed on him.
Ross Tighe concluded his evidence via video link from the Mackay courthouse on Wednesday. The Supreme Court trial in Townsville is expected to run for three weeks. The legal process continues, dissecting the lives of those impacted by the Bogie tragedy, as the local community waits for resolution.