John Griffin sentenced to jail for manslaughter of Port Neill man Gary Robinson
John Edward Tilly Griffin has been jailed for the manslaughter of Gary Robinson in September 2022.
In short:
John Edward Tilly Griffin has been jailed for nine years, four months and seven days for the manslaughter of Gary Robinson at Port Neill, on the Eyre Peninsula, in September 2022.
The court heard Griffin inflicted "multiple blows of considerable force" upon Mr Robinson before throwing shampoo, birdseed and sprinkles on him.
What's next?
Griffin will be eligible to apply for release on parole in February 2030.
A man who inflicted "multiple blows of considerable force" before throwing birdseed, shampoo and sprinkles on the body of a man who later died has been jailed for more than nine years.
Warning: This story contains details which may be distressing for some readers.
John Edward Tilly Griffin, 30, was sentenced in South Australia's Supreme Court on Wednesday for the manslaughter of 65-year-old Gary Robinson on a property near Port Neill, on the Eyre Peninsula, on September 1, 2022.
In sentencing, Justice Sandi McDonald said the men began fighting after Griffin approached Mr Robinson urging him to "expedite" his departure from the caravan where he lived, which was on a property owned by Griffin's uncle.
She said Mr Robinson had earlier been asked to leave the property due to his involvement in a "conflict with a number of members of the community of Port Neill".
Justice McDonald said the men already had a poor relationship and "tensions were running high" when they began fighting.
"You threw the first punch which connected with Mr Robinson's face. That led to a fight during which you and Mr Robinson exchanged punches," she said.
He then followed Mr Robinson inside the caravan.
Gary Robinson's body was found in a caravan on a property on the outskirts of Port Neill. (ABC News)
Justice McDonald said it was at that point Griffin could have walked away.
"This was a critical juncture in the sequence of events," she said.
"Had you walked away at this point in time, this would have been no more than a fight between two men who did not like each other.
"Mr Robinson would still be alive and you would not be in custody.
"However, you made the decision to follow him into the caravan."
She said that once both men were inside the caravan Mr Robinson moved toward the kitchen area and threatened to stab Griffin.
"You responded by punching him, and a second fight commenced," she said.
She said the second fight involved both men throwing punches, and Griffin knocking Mr Robinson to the ground.
When on the ground, she said Griffin had "forcefully" kicked, and stomped on Mr Robinson.
During the continued fight, Justice McDonald said Mr Robinson — who was blocking the caravan door — again threatened to stab Griffin.
"Mr Robinson turned and stepped towards you. He had a knife in his hand. He made a thrusting or stabbing motion towards you," she said.
John Edward Tilly Griffin previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (ABC News: Rebecca Opie)
She said Griffin then decided it was "necessary and reasonable to attack Mr Robinson in order to avoid being stabbed", and inflicted forceful blows which again knocked Mr Robinson to the ground.
"Once he was on the ground you, with considerable force, kicked him to the head, four or five times," Justice McDonald said.
"You finished off by stomping on Mr Robinson's upper body and his head and face as he remained on the ground."
Shampoo, birdseed and sprinkles
Justice McDonald said Griffin, who was likely wearing steel cap boots at the time, then left the caravan and Mr Robinson's body was not found until two days later, on September 3, 2022.
"He had been covered in shampoo, birdseed and hundreds and thousands and there was a small knife in his right hand,"she said.
"You acknowledge and accept that you must have been responsible for leaving Mr Robinson in that condition."
John Edward Tilly Griffin was sentenced in South Australia's Supreme Court. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
A post-mortem revealed Mr Robinson suffered a number of injuries including a skull fracture, while Griffin suffered "only a few minor bruises and abrasions" to his knuckles, torso and arms.
"The gross disparity between the injuries sustained by you and Mr Robinson speak volumes about the nature of the fatal assault,"Justice McDonald said.
She said Griffin pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge in January 2024 which was accepted on the basis he was acting in "excessive self defence".
He had initially been charged with murder.
She noted Griffin had endured a difficult and dysfunctional upbringing, including exposure to violence and drug use.
Justice McDonald said she had considered Griffin's cooperation with police and prosecution since his arrest, but said his offending was on the upper end of seriousness of its type.
She set a head sentence of nine years, four months and one week with a non-parole period of seven years, five months and 24 days which was backdated to the day of his arrest.
Griffin will be eligible to apply for parole in February 2030.