A man who murdered his parents with a sledgehammer in an “unrelenting and brutal attack” days before his mother turned 60 left their battered bodies lying in pools of blood in the family home before fleeing interstate.
The horrific ripples of Christopher Puglia’s cowardly and “childish” act were revealed as devastated family members of Franco and Loris Puglia sat and watched the remorseless killer son receive two life sentences for the horrific murders.
Puglia, 35, exhibited bizarre behaviours by tensing up, flexing and stretching, occasionally glancing back at his extended family in the public gallery and attempting to speak directly to Supreme Court Justice Peter Applegarth as he learnt his fate.
“You don’t talk to me, you talk to your solicitor,” Justice Applegarth told Puglia, later telling him to keep his hands still during the sentencing.
“This is not a murder that arose from excessive self-defence or some extenuating circumstances.
“These were callous, brutal murders, where death came from several blows, delivered with deadly force.
“They are not explained by some developmental or psychiatric condition or exposure to violence or sexual abuse or some other severe trauma as a child.”
Outside Brisbane Supreme Court, James Puglia, Franco and Loris’s other son, broke down as he told reporters the sentencing marked a new chapter for the family.
“The sentence handed down today is never enough based off the loss we have suffered,” he said.
“However today is a chapter of our life that is closed, and tomorrow is another chapter.”
The court was told Puglia was living with Franco and Loris at the time of their deaths in mid-2020.
Puglia had lost his job due to the Covid-19 pandemic and moved into their family home in Joyner, in Queensland’s Moreton Bay region.
Crown prosecutor Mark Green said the relationship between Puglia and his parents “deteriorated” and tensions erupted, at times escalating into violence.
Puglia’s parents grew frustrated due to their son refusing to get a job, organise his Centrelink and help out around the house.
During afternoon tea at his grandparents’ house on May 16, 2020, Puglia complained he “hated” living at his parents’ home.
Later that evening, after Puglia helped his father in the garden while Loris cooked dinner, neighbours reported hearing two female screams.
Mr Green said the Crown case was Puglia struck the pair multiple times in the head and face with a sledgehammer, causing “several large lacerations” that led to their deaths.
“The defendant dragged both their bodies a short distance and attempted to place Franco’s body in a wheelbarrow,” he said.
Afterwards, the court was told Puglia showered, packed food, alcohol and his passport and left the house for Southport.
He then drove to Sydney the next day before being arrested on the M1 at 6.30pm.
Puglia denied the offending when interviewed by NSW Police.
Mr Green said Franco and Loris’s bodies were discovered by family members who came to the home to celebrate Loris’s 60th birthday.
“Both had extensive head injuries and there were significant puddles of congealed blood, bloody drag marks and blood spatters in the breezeway and family room,” he said.
“(It was) an unrelenting and brutal attack.”
Justice Applegarth said photos of the murder scene were so graphic it was enough to make him “sick”.
Puglia last month pleaded guilty to the couple’s murders during an arraignment at the Supreme Court – just short of a month before his Supreme Court trial was due to start.
Family members on Tuesday spoke of the “irreplaceable void” left by Frank and Loris’s murders.
“After a call from my uncle, just like that my entire family was taken from me,” James Puglia read from his victim impact statement.
“Your actions have, and will, impact generations.”
James explained the family was reminded “every day” of his brother’s “selfish” actions.
“You are where you belong,” he told him.
“You have lost the right to call Franco and Loris your parents. The people you brutally took away from me were my parents.
“I have amazing memories of my parents, but you will be left of the memories of what you did to them due to the consequences of a selfish child’s actions.
“A child who chose not to admit his sins for four years while the family has suffered a long, dreadful wait.”
The court was told instances of domestic violence had erupted between Puglia and his parents in the months prior.
One included Puglia grabbing his father in a bear hug after he attempted to grab his son’s belongings, while on another occasion Loris was pushed to the floor while attempting to grab Puglia’s phone.
Virtually no reason was given for Puglia’s actions, with his defence team only submitting he had been assaulted “multiple” times in jail and completed a drug and alcohol course.
No psychological or psychiatric reports were tendered in his favour.
Justice Applegarth said he had not heard any genuine indication of remorse from Puglia, noting the late plea might have been due to the overwhelming Crown case against him.
He sentenced Puglia to life imprisonment on both murder counts, imposing a parole eligibility date in May 2050.
“If you were truly remorseful, the plea would have been entered earlier,” he said.
“Yours were not the actions of an impulsive adolescent, you were 31 when you committed these offences.”
“Your murderous actions were unexplained. To say you were resentful, ungrateful, uncaring and selfish does not begin to explain the enormity of your actions.”