A drug dealer who callously executed a young chef at close range in regional NSW because she was an "annoyance" will spend at least 20 years in jail. Samuel John Shephard, 39, in October pleaded guilty to murdering 27-year-old Allecha Boyd near Wagga Wagga in 2017, as well as supplying a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine. Justice Richard Button on Friday jailed Shephard for 27 years and seven months with a non-parole period of 20 years and eight months. The judge said it was an extremely grave and dismissive murder of an unsuspecting and completely vulnerable young woman. He noted the "utmost callousness" Shephard showed in gunning down Ms Boyd and his complete lack of remorse. "Although it is true that the deceased cannot have suffered for an extended period, there is surely something almost dismissive about the execution of a person by way of the use of a handgun," Justice Button told the NSW Supreme Court in Wagga Wagga. The court heard Ms Boyd was on the day of her death driven to Shephard's home to buy drugs. Shephard and another man, Anthony Hagan, then drove her to an isolated spot on the outskirts of town where they met up with Shephard's lover Katie Barnett. Shephard believed Ms Boyd had previously broken into Barnett's house and threatened her. Shephard, who had a pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants, then pulled out the gun and shot Ms Boyd several times without emotion, the court heard. "Thus the life of a fellow human being was extinguished, for no reason other than the offender believing that she was some sort of annoyance or trouble or threat," Justice Button said. After the murder, Shephard and Hagan buried Ms Boyd in the Lester State Forest and burned their clothes. Ms Boyd's body has never been found and the judge noted her family's desperate wish to give her a proper burial would likely never be realised. "The family of Ms Boyd has been severely damaged, damaged almost to the point of destruction," the judge said. "More than one person has sought solace in alcohol; others have obsessively searched for her body; others reflect bitterly on the unrealised potential of this talented chef; yet others rely upon medication for anxiety and depression just to keep going, day after desolate day." "All, I infer, are unable to comprehend how or why this short life was snuffed out." Shephard's partner Tracey Lee King, lover Barnett and accomplice Hagan have also been convicted over their roles in the murder. Australian Associated Press
The man who murdered Allecha Boyd near Wagga Wagga has been jailed for at least 20 years.
A drug dealer who callously executed a young chef at close range in regional NSW because she was an "annoyance" will spend at least 20 years in jail.
Samuel John Shephard, 39, in October pleaded guilty to murdering 27-year-old Allecha Boyd near Wagga Wagga in 2017, as well as supplying a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
Justice Richard Button on Friday jailed Shephard for 27 years and seven months with a non-parole period of 20 years and eight months.
The judge said it was an extremely grave and dismissive murder of an unsuspecting and completely vulnerable young woman.
He noted the "utmost callousness" Shephard showed in gunning down Ms Boyd and his complete lack of remorse.
"Although it is true that the deceased cannot have suffered for an extended period, there is surely something almost dismissive about the execution of a person by way of the use of a handgun," Justice Button told the NSW Supreme Court in Wagga Wagga.
The court heard Ms Boyd was on the day of her death driven to Shephard's home to buy drugs.
Shephard and another man, Anthony Hagan, then drove her to an isolated spot on the outskirts of town where they met up with Shephard's lover Katie Barnett. Shephard believed Ms Boyd had previously broken into Barnett's house and threatened her.
Shephard, who had a pistol tucked into the waistband of his pants, then pulled out the gun and shot Ms Boyd several times without emotion, the court heard.
"Thus the life of a fellow human being was extinguished, for no reason other than the offender believing that she was some sort of annoyance or trouble or threat," Justice Button said.
After the murder, Shephard and Hagan buried Ms Boyd in the Lester State Forest and burned their clothes.
Ms Boyd's body has never been found and the judge noted her family's desperate wish to give her a proper burial would likely never be realised.
"The family of Ms Boyd has been severely damaged, damaged almost to the point of destruction," the judge said.
"More than one person has sought solace in alcohol; others have obsessively searched for her body; others reflect bitterly on the unrealised potential of this talented chef; yet others rely upon medication for anxiety and depression just to keep going, day after desolate day."
"All, I infer, are unable to comprehend how or why this short life was snuffed out."
Shephard's partner Tracey Lee King, lover Barnett and accomplice Hagan have also been convicted over their roles in the murder.
