Christopher Puglia: Horrific new details emerge about Brisbane man who bludgeoned his parents to death with a sledgehammer as magistrate admits crime scene photos ‘made me sick’
The heartbroken family of a couple beaten to death by their son have comforted each other as he was sentenced.
Christopher Puglia, 35, will spend at least three decades behind bars after admitting killing his parents Franco and Loris Puglia with a sledgehammer at their home in Joyner, north Brisbane, on May 16, 2020.
The guilty plea was made just weeks before Puglia was set to stand trial for the double murder.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment on each murder charge in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as family members supported each other in the public gallery.
Relatives who went to celebrate Ms Puglia’s 60th birthday found the bloody and disgusting murder scene, Judge Peter Applegarth said.
Relatives of Franco and Loris Puglia (center, right) have described their heartbreak after the couple was brutally beaten to death by their son, Christian (left)
Puglia had moved from NSW to live with his parents after losing his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, the court heard.
Their relationship deteriorated as Puglia failed to find work and help around the house.
After an altercation that resulted in the police being called, Puglia agreed to meet his parents’ expectations while they gave him a deadline to find alternative accommodation.
But on Saturday, May 16, after helping his father in the garden, Puglia hit his parents several times with a sledgehammer before attempting to put his father’s body in a wheelbarrow.
He packed up supplies, including food and alcohol, before driving his father’s RAV4 to Southport where he slept the night.
The next day, Puglia drove to NSW, where he was arrested south of Newcastle, hours after his parents’ bodies were found.
Photos of the scene were sealed and marked as ‘disturbing images’ but were only opened on the judge’s orders during the sentencing hearing, with Judge Applegarth saying they were ‘enough to make me sick and I had to go for a walk ‘.
Christopher Puglia, 35, pleads guilty to murdering his parents in May 2020 by hitting them multiple times with a sledgehammer after they let him move back in during the pandemic
Puglia’s brother James (pictured) chastised him during sentencing in court on Tuesday, saying he no longer had the right to ‘call Frank and Loris your parents’
The murderous actions of Puglia, who has no criminal history, are unexplained, Judge Applegarth said.
“After you killed your parents and you realized the magnitude of your crime, you didn’t call 911 or shout to the neighbors,” he said.
“You showed no respect for your parents’ bodies nor any concern for the trauma your aunt and uncle or any stranger would suffer if they discovered the bodies.”
“To say you were resentful, ungrateful, uncaring and selfish does not explain the enormity of your actions.
His brother, James Puglia, said his brother’s actions will continue to impact the family for years to come.
“I have suffered more mental and physical pain than you can imagine, yet today I still stand strong for you,” he told his brother in court.
“For reasons I don’t understand, I choose not to understand why or what you did because it’s not worth my energy. Because I’ve wasted enough energy on you.
“You have lost the right to call Frank and Loris your parents.”
James said his brother’s actions will continue to impact the family for years to come.
‘How do we explain this to the next generation? The brutal event that took place.”
Loris Puglia’s sister, Nerida, told the court about her daily struggle to cope with the knowledge of what happened to her family.
‘I often find myself reminiscing about the life experiences that Frank and Loris will never enjoy; the trips to Italy they dreamed of, the joy of becoming grandparents, the bliss of retiring and finally being able to live,” she said.
“Frank and Loris worked so hard to create this life for themselves and they will never have the simple pleasure of growing old together.”
She added that she, Loris and Franco, had been robbed of future experiences, describing it as “a pain that I always carry with me.”
Presiding Judge Peter Applegarth said Puglia (pictured) showed ‘no respect for your parents’ bodies’ before sentencing him to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 30 years
Judge Applegarth described the killings as callous and brutal and said the deaths resulted from several blows delivered with deadly force.
“They are not explained by a developmental or psychiatric condition, or exposure to violence or sexual abuse or other serious trauma as a child.”
Judge Applegarth hoped the couple’s family could replace thoughts of the killer with thoughts of Mr and Mrs Puglia’s achievements and the happy times they had shared.
The court heard Mr Puglia was an insurance adviser while Ms Puglia worked for Guide Dogs Australia.
Judge Applegarth sentenced Puglia to life behind bars on each killing and ordered that he serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.
After 2050, it would be up to the Parole Board to decide whether Puglia should be released.
“Consideration will be given as to whether your possible rehabilitation, any genuine remorse and the interests of protecting the community should merit your release on parole or not,” Judge Applegarth told Puglia.
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