FEELING sorry for a former workmate living in a shipping container in the bush, Darren Greenfield invited the man to move into his home.
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The act of charity cost 44-year-old cost Mr Greenfield his life in a most brutal way .
Festering resentment within boarder Robert James Pluis after Mr Greenfield asked him to move out of his Wyalong home after about three months because his father was coming to stay exploded in Pluis bashing Mr Greenfield to death with his bare hands, and possibly his feet.
A postmortem examination revealed Mr Greenfield suffered nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver and spleen.
Pluis, who pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Greenfield on or about January 21, 2013, was sentenced on Friday to a minimum 14 years and seven months jail for the vicious killing by Justice Peter Johnson of the NSW Supreme Court in Griffith.
Members of Mr Greenfield’s family, including sister Natalie and 19-year-old son Dylan, were in court for Pluis’s sentencing.
Asked if she was satisfied with the sentence, Miss Greenfield said: “My personal opinion is if you take a life you should be given life.”
Mr Greenfield lived in the West Wyalong area all his life.
He worked with Graincorp as a pest controller for more than 20 years.
Justice Johnson said Mr Greenfield was regarded as a reliable worker and a kind person who was willing to lend a helping hand to others in need.
“Everyone in West Wyalong knew Darren as a gentle and kind man, and his best friend was his son, Dylan,” Miss Greenfield said.
“It’s been a long two years, and now my brother can rest in peace.”
Pluis, who had previous convictions for violence, including armed robbery and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, had a highly disturbed upbringing, epilepsy and anger problems, Justice Johnson said.
“I am satisfied that the physical attack upon the victim arose in a relatively spontaneous context, likely in circumstances where both men had consumed substantial amounts of alcohol,” Justice Johnson said.
Mr Greenfield was last seen alive about 8pm on January 20 by a woman who saw him firstly lying on his stomach on the footpath in front of his house.
She then saw him trying unsuccessfully four or five times to get up on his hands and knees and then Pluis coming out of house, picking up Mr Greenfield and helping him into the house.
Pluis was arrested on February 1, the day of Mr Greenfield’s funeral.
Pluis will be eligible for parole on September 1, 2027.
