Former private school vice-captain Marco Yandle given suspended sentence for role in Steven Murphy’s death

The former vice-captain of a prestigious private school has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to helping his father cover up the alleged murder of a homeless man on their family property.

Marco Yandle, appearing in South Australian Supreme Court on Tuesday, was sentenced to 20 months in prison but then immediately released from custody on a suspended sentence.

A supporter of Steven Murphy, the alleged murder victim, reacted with fury to the sentence, crying out “are you f**king kidding me” after the hearing had ended.

Yandle told a court he helped his father Keith Yandle escape apprehension or prosecution, or to dispose of proceeds of the offence, following Mr Murphy’s alleged murder on February 19, 2023.

SA Police allege Keith killed Mr Murphy, a father of two, in the night with an unlicensed firearm on a Kudla property in Adelaide’s outer northern suburbs.

The court heard Marco and his father became suspicious there was an intruder on their property and checked their shed, where they found Mr Murphy unarmed.

Mr Murphy was sleeping rough at the time.

A tip-off led police to the property, where they allegedly found a marijuana farm and a gravesite within a man-made bunker.

Marco, 20, was initially charged with murder alongside his father, but the police downgraded the charges to assisting an offender.

He has been in prison since April 6, 2023, and had already served 16 months in jail while his case progressed through the courts.

The court was told Marco had disposed of some of Mr Murphy’s personal items after the alleged killing and then later denied to police officers hearing gunshots on the night or knowing about a firearm.

“These were lies,” Justice Hughes said.

“You told those lies in order to protect yourself and your father.”

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Judy Hughes cited time already served, Marco’s lack of any prior criminal history and a psychologist’s report that deemed him at “low risk” of reoffending as factors for her decision.

She also emphasised Marco would be sentenced for his behaviour after the shooting and not for failing to intervene in the alleged killing.

The court was told Marco was “contrite and remorseful” for his actions, which Justice Hughes said had caused the Murphy family “anger, pain and anguish that endures”.

“The consequences of the events of that night were devastating,” she said.

“Mr Murphy was a cherished partner, son, father, brother, friend.”

Marco signed a two-year good behaviour bond and will be supervised by Department of Corrections officers.

Tears ran down his face as he faced his family after the sentence.

Defence lawyer Stephen Ey, for Marco, praised what he called a “merciful sentence” from Justice Hughes.

“He (Marco) wants to now get on with his life,” he said outside court.

“He understands he has caused great pain to the family of the victim.

“But now wants to move on. He has served his time and I congratulate the judge on a very merciful sentence.

“It’s a very appropriate sentence in all the circumstances.

“Sixteen months in custody pending sentence is a long time for a young man who has never been in trouble.”

Speaking at an earlier court appearance on July 5, Marco apologised directly to the Murphy family for his actions.

“The decision I made was shameful, reckless and weak,” he said.

“I chose my father over the law, and I completely understand I must face the consequences of that choice.

“Even if I am never forgiven, I will forever extend my apologies to the family of the deceased Mr Murphy.”

The maximum punishment for the offence is 10 years in prison.

Keith, 46, at an earlier appearance at Adelaide Magistrates Court on February 22, pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder after initially seeking to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Marco was the vice-captain of Trinity College, a private co-ed school in Gawler that charges up to $7060 a year for senior school students.