A Queensland man who murdered his neighbour, dismembered his body and concealed the remains inside a freezer buried in the victim's backyard has been sentenced to life in prison.
Bobby Andrew Weaver, 31, appeared before the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Monday, where Justice Paul Smith imposed the mandatory life sentence for the murder of 58-year-old David Thornton. Weaver had pleaded guilty to the crime in April, more than seven years after Thornton's death.
The court heard that Thornton, a retired teacher and long-time family friend of Weaver, was killed sometime between January and March 2019 at his Goodna home in Ipswich, west of Brisbane. Justice Smith described the killing as a "cold-blooded" and premeditated act driven by greed.
According to prosecutors, Weaver shot Thornton twice in the head while the victim was seated. He then severed Thornton's legs below the knees using a saw so the body could fit inside a chest freezer. The freezer containing the remains was buried in Thornton's backyard alongside another freezer.
Thornton's family had reported him missing after they became concerned about his sudden disappearance. During the investigation, police excavated the Goodna property and uncovered the horrifying discovery. Weaver was arrested days later in Byron Bay, New South Wales, before being extradited to Queensland.
The court was told that Weaver orchestrated an elaborate campaign of deception following the murder. He used Thornton's mobile phone and social media accounts to send messages to relatives and friends, falsely claiming that Thornton had gone "off grid" and was travelling in Western Australia. The lies prolonged the family's suffering and delayed suspicions surrounding Thornton's disappearance.
Prosecutors also revealed that Weaver stole approximately $30,000 from Thornton and spent the money on personal purchases, including a motorcycle. Justice Smith stated that financial gain was at the centre of the crime.
In victim impact statements presented to the court, Thornton's family described years of anguish and unanswered questions. One of Thornton's daughters said the family had endured "seven years of waiting" and "seven years of praying for some sort of closure."
Justice Smith acknowledged Weaver's guilty plea and his limited criminal history. However, he said it was difficult to accept that Weaver had demonstrated genuine remorse, given the prolonged deception that followed the killing.
"The treatment of the body is disgraceful," Justice Smith said, adding that Thornton had been murdered "in cold blood." He noted the profound emotional impact the crime had inflicted upon Thornton's loved ones.
Under Queensland law, Weaver received a mandatory life sentence for murder. Taking into account the more than seven years he has already spent in custody since his arrest in 2019, he will become eligible to apply for parole in 2039.
The sentencing brings an end to one of Queensland's most disturbing homicide cases, offering a measure of closure to Thornton's grieving family after years of heartbreak and uncertainty.
