Two men have been sentenced over the brutal death of a 68-year-old Greenbushes man, with a court hearing how three men conspired to steal from him before brutally murdering him and disposing of his body in bushland.
Raymond Smith was found by police near his home a month after he went missing in December 2023.
The antiques collector was described by friends as “one of the nicest guys” and a “lovely man”.
Paul Douglas May and James Terence Hunt were found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The third man involved in the murder, Kevin Allan Craig Potter, pleaded guilty at the outset, and has already been sentenced for his role in the crime.
May and Hunt were sentenced in the Supreme Court on Friday.
The court heard how the trio planned to talk their way into his home and then steal from him to fund a drug habit. Their goal was to take valuable items and cannabis from Smith, but after ingesting methamphetamine, the break-in turned violent.
They took two rifles to the house, gloves and other items to cover their faces while Potter pretended to be a “lone, friendly visitor” to gain Smith’s trust and access to his house.
The other two men then went to the back door of his house, alerting Smith who grabbed a baseball bat to defend himself.
Hunt entered the house, took the bat and grabbed Smith by his hair and dragged him to the bathroom where he tied up his hands with cling wrap.
May then struck him on the legs twice with the bat before May “stomped on his chest or neck three times with severe force”.
May and Potter then went into the bedroom looking for a safe and ransacked it taking two items thought to be of value.
They then left and drove away; the court hearing that Smith was either “dead or dying” at the time.
Over the next two days they tried to use Smith’s bank card to buy takeaway before either May or Hunt went back to Smith’s house and moved his body.
Both denied the accusation.
“The fact there was no honour among thieves is the least of anyone’s concern,” Supreme Court justice Amanda Forrester said.
When police started asking questions all three men denied any involvement.
Forrester called their actions “unprovoked, gratuitous, brutal and senseless” and said they were “selfishly motivated by greed and desire to feed [their] meth habits”.
She said May and Hunt had no remorse and only sought to avoid responsibility.
Smith’s daughter gave an impassioned victim impact statement telling the court that Smith was a loving father and grandfather.
She said he was a trusting and kind person who always offered to help those in need.
Hunt was sentenced to life with a minimum non parole period of 21 years. May was sentenced to 17 years.
