‘Execution-style’: Tyson Taylor found guilty of referee's murder
A Supreme Court jury has found Tyson Taylor guilty of murdering Brisbane rugby league referee Tony McGrath and has sentenced Taylor to life for murder and 15 years for attempted murder.
The jury found Taylor guilty of the execution-style killing of the referee in the garage of his Woolloongabba home in May 2013.
The jury also found Taylor, 41, guilty of attempting to murder Mr McGrath in a fire at the referee's house in October 2012.
McGrath's family & friends were left smiling in court following the jury handing down the guilty verdict.
As part of her victim impact statement, Carmel Ward, sister to Tony told the court, "I miss Tony more everyday".
"Tony was my brother, confidant and friend," she said fighting back tears.
Tears in court as Carmel Ward reads victim impact statement. Tyson Taylor will be sentenced for murder & att murder @7NewsQueensland
— Marlina Whop (@MarlinaWhop) May 24, 2016
"Before his death my life was whole."
"Your description of Tony pleading for his life will haunt me for the rest of my life," Ward stated, directly addressing Tyson Taylor.
Mrs Waugh said Taylor had killed a man whose only crime was falling in love with the wrong woman.
"Tony has been deprived of life and I have been deprived of my brother," she said.
Taylor had pleaded not guilty to both charges in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.
Secret recordings of Taylor confessing to the crime and attempted murder during a covert police operation were played to the court during the trial.
The jury had heard during the 11-day trial that Taylor was obsessed with a prostitute, Susan Stewart, to whom Mr McGrath was supposedly engaged.
The crown had alleged Stewart believed she was set to inherit the 57-year-old former accountant's estate.
More to come.
News break – May 24
