A NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced three young men to prison for the aggravated kidnapping of 56-year-old Canberra-based real estate agent Peter Keeley, whose body was found in the bushlands on the NSW South Coast in February 2020. Trigger Warning: This story discusses violent death of a gay man, which might be distressing to some readers.
For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Keeley, an auctioneer and past president of West Belconnen Junior Rugby League Football Club, was lured by one of the boys via the gay dating app Grindr.
The three accused discussed a plan to tie Keeley up and bash him and even searched on Google “Does holding a metal object in your hand make a difference to your punch”.
Justice Michael Walton, had in June 2022, acquitted the three, who were all 17 at the time of the crime, of murder charges, but held them guilty of aggravated kidnapping. “The deceased was struck repeatedly and with some force and was bound and gagged.