Hells Angels bikie found guilty of murder over fatal bashing of Mark Boyce

Mark Boyce, 36, was bashed outside his home, sustaining a fatal brain injury. 

A Hells Angels bikie accused of ambushing and bashing a man outside his home, before leaving him unconscious on the footpath, has been found guilty of murder.

Key points:

• Mark Boyce's life support was turned off days after he was attacked in January 2017
• Joshua Roy Grant pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murdering Mr Boyce
• After hours of deliberation, a jury unanimously found him guilty of murder

Mark Boyce, 36, suffered a fatal brain injury when he was beaten outside his home on Hill Street at Elizabeth South, in Adelaide's northern suburbs, in January 2017.

The prosecution alleged Joshua Roy Grant, 27, was one of three men from the Hells Angels motorcycle gang (link is external) who attacked Mr Boyce before leaving him unconscious.

The court heard Mr Boyce was repeatedly kicked, punched and stomped on. His life support was turned off eight days later. During the trial, South Australia's Supreme Court heard Mr Boyce's friend was the intended target of the attack.

Grant pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied the more serious charge of murder, with his lawyer challenging prosecution allegations that Grant was the one who kicked the victim in the head.

After four-and-a-half hours of deliberation, the Supreme Court jury unanimously found Grant guilty of murder.

Outside court the victim's father, Malcolm Boyce, was emotional as he spoke briefly to the media, thanking prosecutors and police detectives for their work.
"I'm very happy with the outcome … we got justice for him," Mr Boyce said.

"He was my only son, my only child and besides being a son he was a good mate as well."

During the trial, prosecutor Emily Telfer told the court Mr Boyce "was in the wrong place at the wrong time
"It's alleged that the assault and events leading to the assault were no spur of the moment dispute that got out of hand," she said.

"Rather it is alleged that the assault on Mr Boyce followed from a deliberately planned and carefully executed ambush.

"He tried to run from the men, but he was caught and pulled to the ground."

Grant remains in custody, with sentencing submissions to be heard at a later date.




Australia - MSN.