Teens charged with murder of ex-girlfriend's father after roadside attack
A teenager and his friend have been charged with murdering the 49-year-old father of his ex-girlfriend by knocking him out with a firearm and leaving him to die beside a road in southeast Queensland.
The incident unfolded after two men, identified by Nine News as 19-year-olds Kynan Vital and Ethan McPherson, allegedly forced their way into a Springfield Lakes home, south of Brisbane.
They then allegedly punched Vital’s ex-partner Julia Murphy, 20, in the face and stole her phone before taking off in a white ute on Saturday evening.
The vehicle was then pursued by Ms Murphy’s father, Dave Murphy, 49, and a 20-year-old family friend in a silver sedan along The Promenade before both vehicles pulled over to the side of the road, Nine News reported.
When both cars stopped the two men from the ute allegedly threatened the 49-year-old with a firearm, then one of them hit him on the head with the weapon, causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness, police said.
Police allege the 20-year-old man who had been driving the silver sedan was also attacked as he tried to assist Mr Murphy.
Nearby residents watched the incident unfold with Chloe Namour and her partner rushing to the aid of Mr Murphy who was heavily bleeding.
“I stayed with him and got Mark to run inside and get some towels and sheets to try and stop the bleeding,” she told reporters on Sunday.
“It’s definitely something that you don’t want to see really ever again.”
The two accused men then fled in the ute, police say.
Just before midnight the two 19-year-old men were taken into police custody.
On Sunday the 19-year-olds from Springfield Lakes and Molendinar were charged with murder, assault, and robbery with violence.
They are due to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday.
With AAP
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