Court twist in missing man’s alleged murder

A man initially charged with the murder of a missing man who was last seen being attacked in a business boardroom has had his charges downgraded.

Francescos Sebastian Giorgi was one of four men initially accused of the murder of Lachlan Griffiths, 35, in January 2022.

Mr Griffiths was last seen alive in the boardroom of a business in Brisbane’s south, allegedly being attacked early on January 17 that year.

Giorgi, David Lee Tan, Billy Lee Bornstein and Filip Grbavac were all arrested and charged with murder.

But at Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday, Giorgi entered pleas of guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and deprivation of liberty in lieu of the murder charge.

Both Mr Tan and Mr Bornstein’s matters remain before the courts.

Grbavac, 42, died in prison earlier this year after allegedly being attacked by his cellmate.

The court was told Giorgi was not aware there was an alleged plan to kill Mr Griffiths when he arrived at the Coopers Plains business after 2.40am.

Mr Griffiths had been captured on CCTV arriving at the business roughly 20 minutes beforehand.

Supreme Court Justice Frances Williams said Giorgi entered the business’s boardroom with Mr Griffiths and Grbavac.

“Mr Grbavac questioned the deceased about his daughter and contact between them,” Justice Williams said.

Giorgi prevented Mr Griffith from leaving the boardroom during the interrogation.

The court was told the deceased man was “struck or assaulted” by Grbavac, which “caused him to bleed”, while Giorgi was present.

Traces of Mr Griffith’s DNA and blood were found on his shoes, the court was told.

Justice Williams said Giorgi was captured on a recorded prison call in 2024 ordering a family member to destroy the shoes.

“Your criminal liability is due to your continued, deliberate presence,” she said.

“The exact injuries occasioned at that stage are not known however (they) amounted to bodily harm.”

The court was told Giorgi “desisted” with his involvement and left the business about 3.40am.

“You were unaware Mr Grbavac or another (allegedly) possessed a murderous intent, and Mr Grbavac, in the presence of Mr Tan, was also involved in inflicting violence on the deceased,” Justice Williams said.

“Nonetheless, you were aware at some stage the deceased had been unlawfully killed.”

She sentenced Giorgi to 2½ years’ jail with immediate parole, declaring his time spent in custody since 2022 as time served.

He also received a nine-month probation order.