Two teenagers who lured 56-year-old Canberra-based real estate agent Peter Keeley on gay dating app Grindr to the bushlands on the NSW South Coast, were found not guilty of killing him.
Trigger Warning: This story discusses a brutal murder, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
Keeley was a real estate agent, an auctioneer and past president of West Belconnen Junior Rugby League Football Club.
Teens Pleaded Not Guilty To Murder
Three 17-year-old boys were charged with Keeley’s murder. Two of the boys faced trial before the NSW Supreme Court, while the trial of the third boy was separated.
The boys, now aged 19 and 20, who cannot be identified because of their age at the time of arrest, pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to detaining with the intention of occasioning actual bodily harm.
Lured On Grindr
Murdered man Peter Keeley (image NSW Police)
According to the police, one of the teenagers communicated with Keeley on Grindr and arranged to meet him at Broulee. The police said that the teen searched online with the phrase “does holding a metal object in your hand make a difference to your punch”.
He then met up with two others and discussed a plan to tie up Keeley and bash him, the police said. The first teenager then met Keeley, who then drove with him to the nearby bushland, where the two others were waiting.
Cause Of Death Inconclusive
The prosecution’s case was that Keeley’s death was due to trauma to the head and suffocation. The defence brought in an expert who said that death could have been due to methamphetamine toxicity.
The court said that there was no conclusive proof that the death was due to “craniofacial trauma combined with airway obstruction” and the defence’s case that it was due to methamphetamine toxicity could not be ruled out.
If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.
For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14
For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
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Agree with Robert.
The intent to harm or kill is beyond doubt in this case and for a judge to use a defence of legal protocol is beyond reprehensible.
These thugs murdered this man with intent.
That is the bloody end of it.
A straight man’s murder receiving the same treatment would have resulted in outcry.
I hadn’t heard of the outcome of this case in the straight media either ….
Soft on crime – what a total utter joke Australia!
The Murder, for Murder it was, of Peter Keeley by three 17 year-olds just goes to prove that Australia’s Legal System is a complete and utter farce and blatantly homophobic. It is no longer a crime for males to be homosexual but it is still acceptable for the Courts to deliberately indulge in, and support Hatred of Homosexuals.
These three young men will be given a smack on the wrist and allowed to continue with their Hate Crimes
Even if Peter had “meth” in his body that did not cause his head to be smashed to a pulp.
This Court ruling is a joke.