A New South Wales Supreme Court judge has sentenced Clinton Wrigley to 23 years and nine months in jail for the murder of Joel Carter, a 58-year-old farmer, at his remote property in Nyngan in January 2023.
Wrigley, 40, was found guilty of the murder by a jury in May this year.
He was also convicted of stealing Carter’s utility truck, setting it on fire, and stealing power tools, which he later sold.
Justice Ierace Delivers Sentence
Justice Mark Ierace handed down the sentence, noting that Wrigley had shown no remorse for his actions and had even expressed satisfaction at having killed Carter.
The judge described the crime as a “vicious and cowardly attack” on a vulnerable man.
Wrigley’s non-parole period has been set at 16 years, making him eligible for parole in August 2041.
Background to the Crime
Joel Carter’s body was discovered by his son two days after he was killed, lying on a metal-framed bed in his lounge room in an advanced state of decomposition.
A post-mortem examination revealed that he had died from blunt-force trauma after being repeatedly bludgeoned over the head.
Wrigley, who was working as a truck driver and farmhand at a neighbouring property, made confessions to people in the days following Carter’s death.
However, during his trial, he claimed that his confessions were false and that he was simply “being a d**k head”.
A taped confession played in court revealed that Wrigley had acted alone, motivated by a desire to avenge the perceived mistreatment of his sister-in-law by Carter.
He also admitted to burning evidence after the murder, including his boots.
Victim Impact
While no family members delivered victim impact statements to the court, Justice Ierace noted that their evidence and constant presence throughout the trial portrayed Carter as a generous person.
Despite his struggles with alcohol addiction, his family described him as a “complicated larrikin who would give the shirt off his back”.
The judge expressed his sympathies to the family and friends of Joel Carter, acknowledging their commitment to his memory.