Overview

• The Queensland Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Justin John Meale’s bid to overturn his murder conviction, confirming his life sentence with a 16-year non-parole period.
• Meale challenged the jury’s finding of intent and argued self-defence should apply, but justices Mullins, Brown and Wilson held that trial directions were correct and evidence supported the verdict beyond reasonable doubt.
• A Brisbane Supreme Court jury had convicted Meale in November 2022 for fatally shooting Clinton “Rocky” Pollock outside his Deception Bay home after a methamphetamine deal collapsed.
• Trial testimony described a tense ‘Mexican standoff’ in which Meale fired a single .22-calibre bullet from a sawn-off rifle, striking Pollock in the torso and causing fatal injuries.
• Prosecutors pointed to Meale’s attempts to hide the rifle and mislead police about his involvement as signs of ‘conscious guilt’ that reinforced the murder conviction.