Lachlan Griffiths’ family hopes to find his body after two men sentenced over his death

The family of a man whose body remains missing nearly three years after he was killed in what’s been described as an act of “vigilante justice” has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward about the whereabouts of their loved one.

Lachlan Griffiths family have spent more than 1000 days looking for answers since the 35-year-old was killed on January 17, 2022.

Mr Griffiths was last seen arriving at a business in Coopers Plains, in Brisbane’s south, owned by David Lee Tan, 42, in the early hours of January 17, 2022.

When his family reported him missing on Australia Day 2022, Queensland Police narrowed down their investigation to the transport business.

Their investigation led them to dig up some freshly poured concrete in a warehouse on the property.

When they found human remains encased in concrete, police had thought they’d found Mr Griffiths.

It wasn’t until further DNA testing discovered the human remains actually belonged to Andrew Walsh, 35, who had also been reported missing weeks earlier.

Mr Griffiths’ remains have never been found.

Those responsible for Lachlan Griffiths death sentenced

Tan and 30-year-old Billy Lee Bronstein were sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday over their role in Mr Griffiths’ death.

Both men had previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Griffiths.

The court was told while the two men were not involved in the killing of Mr Griffiths, they had helped ensure a plan to bring harm to him was carried out.

In her sentencing remarks, Supreme Court Justice Frances Williams said Bornstein and Tan, and a third man Filip Grbavac, had developed a plan about a possible drug deal to lure Mr Griffiths to the business where he would be “vulnerable and isolated”.

The court was told Grbavac had confided in Bornstein and Tan around January 14 about allegations Mr Griffiths had harmed a member of Grbavac’s family.

The court was told Bornstein contacted Mr Griffiths in an attempt to buy drugs from him.

Bornstein then drove a van owned by Tan to meet Mr Griffiths with Grbavac before the three men returned to the Coopers Plains business after explaining to Mr Griffiths there was an issue with paying for the drugs, the court was told.

Justice Williams said Mr Griffiths was then taken to a boardroom, where he was the victim of “prolonged and extreme” violence at the hands of Grbavac.

Police believe Mr Griffiths died in that room before Bornstein left the premises.

Justice Williams said while Bornstein was not in the room where Mr Griffiths was believed to have died, he was part of the plan to enact “vigilante justice”, despite any proof of the allegation.

Bornstein had told police he’d walked past the boardroom at one stage and saw Mr Griffiths on the ground covered in blood by still conscious.

He also saw blood spatter on the walls.

The court was told Grbavac had blood over his hands, arms and face.

Justice Williams said while Bornstein wasn’t involved in the killing of Mr Griffiths, he “did nothing to stop the so-called interrogation”.

“While you did not throw the punches and you were not in the room, there is evidence you were aware there would be violence,” she said of Bornstein.

“You and others decided to take matters into your own hands … it was a carefully crafted and calculated plan to adopt a form of vigilante justice that circumvented proper investigation of the complaint and resulted in the loss of a life.

“The plan was not ad hoc or spontaneous, it appears to be planned out and thought out over a period of time.”

Justice Williams said Bornstein’s involvement in Mr Griffiths’ death was “calculated” and based on a “misspent sense of loyalty to a friend and employer”.

Bornstein was sentenced to nine years in jail for Mr Griffith’s manslaughter, with 721 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time already served.

He will be eligible for parole in November 2028 after having served 60 per cent of his sentence.

Meanwhile, Tan was sentenced to 9 years and six months for his role in the manslaughter of Mr Griffiths.

The court was told Tan was at times in the room with Grbavac as he assaulted Mr Griffiths but police believe he wasn’t there when he died.

Grbavac had later texted Tan stating “cheers brother, appreciate your help and hospitality”, the court was told.

Tan was also sentenced on Monday after he pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder after the fact following the death of Mr Walsh.

The court was told Tan helped dispose of Mr Walsh’s body in an oil pit at his business including pouring concrete over him and trying to dissolve his remains with chemicals.

Justice Williams ordered Tan serve to 15 years and six months in prison for his involvement in the deaths of Mr Griffiths and Mr Walsh.

He will be eligible for parole after nine years and six months in jail from September 2031.

Family’s final wish

The horror of losing a loved one remains a difficult thing to grasp for the family of Mr Griffith’s, as they potentially have to accept they may never find his body.

After Tan’s sentence was handed down, some of Mr Griffiths’ family members lashed out as the 42-year-old sat in the dock.

“Cowardly little grub,” one person yelled.

Following the sentencing of Bornstein and Tan, Mr Griffiths’ family said outside of court they hoped they would one day see him again.

“We continue to hope for the return of Lachie’s remains, so we may lay him to rest in the niche prepared for him at our local church,” the family said in a statement.

“We beg anyone who may know where he is to come forward and give us this small measure of peace.

“Whilst this marks the end of our time in court, it’s not closure, no true justice, it only marks the final chapter in this part of our journey.

“We are deeply grateful to Justice Williams for her compassion and for giving us a voice in this process.

“We were able to speak about he profound impact of Lachie’s loss on our family, and for that, we say thank you.

“Today’s sentencing reflects the law’s conclusion, but it will never match the loss we carry.”

Mr Griffiths’ father, Chris, said his son will be remembered as a “loyal” man.

“He was a lovely little kid. He was a good kid, very loyal to his family and so forth,” he said.

“He was always loyal to me.

“I loved him very much, like we all did. It’s a sad ending.”

Chris said it was hard to sit in the courtroom and watch the men who last saw his son alive receive their sentences.

“I just want to thank the police for their hard work but you never get the result you really want,” he said.

“I’m no lawyer, I would have liked to have seen, obviously as a dad, you’d like to see life as life but it’s not that way.

“At least he got some time and I got to eyeball Tan and that was good for me.

“Everyone handles grief differently.

“I miss him.”

Sadly, the location of Mr Griffiths’ body might be a question his family might never get the answers to.

Grbavac, who was charged with Mr Griffiths’ murder, died while he was in prison following an alleged assault by his cellmate in February 2024.

The family’s last hope is that Bornstein or Tan know where Mr Griffiths’ body is and reveal the location.

With both eligible for parole in a few years, their release will be up to the Parole Board of Queensland, who have the power to deny parole if a victim’s body has not been found.

The board must decide whether the parole applicant has been found to have not co-operated fully with finding the body.

Justice Williams said the matter of Bornstein’s parole would be a matter for the board.