Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Savannah Meacham

'Disappointed': murder trial jury dismissed, no verdict

Christopher Anderson's family broke down in tears after a jury failed to reach a murder verdict. (Fraser Barton/AAP PHOTOS)

A jury has been unable to reach a verdict in a murder trial after a man was accused of fatally shooting a father during a home invasion.

The disappointed family of father Christopher Anderson broke down in tears and began hugging outside the courtroom after the decision to dismiss the Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Wednesday.

Larkin Moffatt had pleaded not guilty to murder after he was accused of fatally shooting Mr Anderson in a home invasion at Gailes in Brisbane's south in July 2021.

The court earlier was told Moffatt, his brother Markiss Graham Moffatt-Cleary, Shaun Birt and Aidan Pascoe went to Mr Anderson's home to collect drug money he was owed. 

Pascoe fired a shot within the home before the four men fled with some of Mr Anderson's belongings, the jury heard.

CCTV footage captured Mr Anderson in pursuit armed with a shovel before he was later shot in the chest.

Moffatt was accused of firing the fatal shot as Mr Anderson attacked the group with a shovel while they tried to flee in a car.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict after three days of deliberating, with a note handed to Justice Lincoln Crowley on Wednesday saying they were "absolutely deadlocked".

Justice Crowley discharged the jurors after thanking them for their efforts in a difficult task that he said was undertaken with "diligence and seriously".

Mr Anderson's older sister Lisa Conlon said the family was disappointed and "can't get an opportunity to grieve properly" after the jury's dismissal.

Moffatt remains in custody with the matter to be reviewed on June 3.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.