Fury over ex-private schoolboy’s sentence

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.

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.

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.

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.