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Tiahleigh's foster father expected to plead guilty to her murder

Queensland man Rick Thorburn is expected to plead guilty to murdering his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer, who was found dead on the banks of a Gold Coast river in 2015.

The 12-year-old’s decomposing body was found six days after she went missing while in the care of Thorburn and his family.

If the plea goes ahead as expected, Thorburn will likely be sentenced at Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.

He is set to be the last of his family members to be punished over the crime, which has gripped Queensland for years.

Rick Thorburn is expected to plead guilty to murdering his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer, who was found dead on the banks of a Gold Coast river in 2015. Source: AAP
Rick Thorburn is expected to plead guilty to murdering his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer, who was found dead on the banks of a Gold Coast river in 2015. Source: AAP

In February, Thorburn sought a judge-only trial but a month later the court was told he would plead guilty to murdering the Marsden High schoolgirl and disposing of her body.

It’s also believed he will plead guilty to perjury and perverting the course of justice over lies he told to investigators about Tiahleigh’s disappearance. He also faces a charge of interfering with a corpse.

Thorburn’s two sons and wife have also been jailed in connection to her murder.

Tiahleigh Palmer, who was 12, went missing from her foster family’s home before she was found dead. Source: AAP
Tiahleigh Palmer, who was 12, went missing from her foster family’s home before she was found dead. Source: AAP

Trent, who admitted to having sex with his foster sister, was jailed in September 2017 for a maximum four years after pleading guilty at the Beenleigh District Court to four charges, including incest.

His mother Julene spent six months behind bars after pleading guilty to perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice in November 2017.

The Thorburn’s eldest son, Joshua, was sentenced to three months in jail in July 2017 after pleading guilty to same charges as his mother.