Two men have been found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Yiel Deng Gatluak, whose body was found east of Alice Springs on New Year’s Day in 2024.
Late today, a Northern Territory Supreme Court jury found Koang Wuordol and Guandong Guandong guilty of murder after more than five weeks of evidence and submissions.
Their co-accused — a teenage boy who cannot be named for legal reasons — was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter, but guilty of the lesser alternative offence of violent act causing death.
Yiel Gatluak was found dead on Undoolya Road east of Alice Springs on New Year’s Day 2024. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)
Mr Gatluak was found dead on Undoolya Road, about 10 kilometres east of Alice Springs.
The trial heard Mr Gatluak was assaulted by the three co-accused, after being driven there in a Ford Ranger in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The Crown argued the accused had entered an agreement to cause him serious harm, while defence lawyers argued the prosecution had not proven the intent required for murder.
Jenny Blokland presided over the case during “five-and-a-half long weeks”. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)
Justice Jenny Blokland told jurors that issue was central to their decision before they retired yesterday morning.
After the verdicts were delivered this afternoon, Justice Blokland thanked the jury for their service, saying it had been “five-and-a-half long weeks”.
The case will return to court for sentencing submissions on July 17.