Metal Cabinet of Death: Friend’s Body Found in NSW Creek, Killer Sentenced to Six-and-a-Half Years Behind Bars
- Zachary Richard Fraser, 29, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his close friend, Darcy Schafer-Turner, 25, in a Sydney court on Wednesday.
- The court heard the victim was placed in a chokehold and duct-taped before Fraser helped dispose of his body in a metal cabinet, which was dumped in a creek on the NSW Mid North Coast.
- Fraser, who showed remorse for his actions, was handed a backdated sentence and will be eligible for parole in July 2027, but the victim’s family say justice has not been served.
In a shocking and disturbing case, a man has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for his role in the death of his close friend, whose body was found in a metal cabinet dumped in a creek on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Zachary Richard Fraser, 29, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Darcy Schafer-Turner, 25, in a Sydney court on Wednesday. The court heard the victim was placed in a chokehold by another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, before Fraser helped place duct tape over his mouth and sat on his legs.
According to the agreed facts, Fraser believed his friend owed the other man $50,000 and had been told the plan was to “just make Darcy pay the bill” because “usually when people are put in a position like that they can find ways to get cash pretty quickly”.
The victim lost consciousness and his direct cause of death was recorded as suffocation. Fraser later paid another man $20,000 to dispose of the body, which was placed in a metal cabinet and dumped in Warrell Creek near Macksville.
In a heartbreaking development, the court heard the victim’s family had been left devastated by his death. His mother described him as a son with “an adventurous spirit and a bright future ahead of him”, while his sister said he was “a funny and caring brother, who was motivated by so many dreams and aspirations”.
Justice Nicholas Chen acknowledged the victim was a man who was “unconditionally loved by his family” and said the taking of his life was a tragedy that had caused profound grief and sorrow to his family and those close to him.
Fraser’s lawyers tried to argue he was “plainly subordinate” in the incident and his role was “limited temporally”, but Justice Chen rejected this, saying his actions were “self-evident” and represented a “moderately serious case of manslaughter”.
Fraser received a discount of 25 per cent for his guilty plea and was handed a non-parole period of just over four years, which means he will be eligible for release in July 2027.
The case has raised questions about the prevalence of violence and gang-related activity in the community, with many calling for tougher laws and stricter sentencing.
In a statement, the victim’s family said they were disappointed with the sentence and felt justice had not been served. “We will never get to see Darcy’s bright future, and his death has left a gaping hole in our lives,” they said.