Todd Nathan Kiernan jailed after murdering Dinh Lam Nguyen in Mahogany Creek, near Perth
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‘Incompetent’ killer sentenced to life in prison was tracked down after plastic he wrapped body in was discovered with his NAME on it
- Dinh Lam Nguyen was stabbed to death by Todd Nathan Kiernan for drug debt
- Kiernan was sentenced to life in the WA Supreme Court on Wednesday
- He was described by the judge as ‘inept’ after he labeled the body with his name
- The body was placed in a container filled with letters addressed to Kiernan, the court has heard
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A killer who killed a father of three on a $4,000 drug debt has been described by a judge as “incompetent” after wrapping the body in a plastic sheet with his name on it.
Todd Nathan Kiernan, 30, and his accomplice Gervaise Widdowson stabbed Dinh Lam Nguyen, 51, when he visited Kiernan’s home in Mahogany Creek, east of Perth, in January 2021.
A jury disagreed with his self-defense argument and found him guilty of murder on Wednesday.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen Hall sentenced Kiernan to life with a 19-year unconditional release.
Justice Hall said that while the attack was not premeditated, it was also unprovoked and his motivation was to avoid paying his drug debt.
Dinh Lam Nguyen (pictured), 51, was stabbed by two men in Mahogany Creek, east of Perth, in January 2021.
Police have found a crime scene in Johns National Forrest Park where Mr Nguyen was found (pictured). Todd Nathan Kiernan, 30, has been jailed for his murder
“It’s really shocking to take a life for such a small amount,” said Justice Hall ABC.
He added that the attempts to cover up the crime were “inept and artless.”
Kiernan and Widdowson used zip ties and pink plastic sheeting to wrap the body before dumping it in a garbage can.
They then added a tree branch and a bag of cement and tried to sink it to the bottom of the Glen Brook Dam in Johns National Forrest Park.
The couple got rid of Nguyen’s car by driving it to a nearby pine plantation and setting it on fire.
However, a few days later, the bin also floated to the surface where a teenage boy discovered the body at a nearby picnic area.
Police discovered that the plastic wrap had a label with Kiernan’s name on it and letters addressed to him were still in the trash.
Police teams retrieve Nguyen’s body from Glen Brook Dam near Perth after the wheelie bin (pictured) floated to the surface
Kiernan must serve at least 19 years in prison before he can be considered for parole.
He was also sentenced to four years for the arson of Nguyen’s car, which is to be served at the same time.
He denied the accusation, saying his victim attacked him first.
Widdowson was also found guilty of murder at the same trial and will be sentenced in February.