The teenager was kidnapped and murdered before his body was burnt in a Ford Territory set on fire on a remote road at Bunbartha.
Danny Clarke, 41, of Shepparton, Dimitri D’Elio, 27, of Mooroopna, and Kylie Stott, 40, of Shepparton, were on trial for 29 days in the Supreme Court, each charged with murder, kidnapping and arson.
The prosecution alleged the trio entered into an agreement with each other to kidnap and kill Mr Gander before burning his body on December 24, 2022.
The prosecution alleged the trio and Mr Gander went to Reedy Swamp from 7.08am for two hours in the Territory and D’Elio’s Holden Caprice, before the Territory was set alight with Mr Gander’s body inside at about 9.39am on Loch Garry Rd, near the intersection with Loch West Rd.
Prosecutor Mark Gibson said the case was about three people acting together as a team with the same objective and aim, but each performing different roles to see that Mr Gander suffered because of what he was believed to have said and done.
However, on Tuesday, July 15, a jury found only one of them guilty of murder — Dimitri D’Elio.
His motive, according to the prosecution, was driven by his “deep affection” and willingness to side with and support Stott in her hatred for Mr Gander after he’d allegedly “ratted on” a friend of hers — Tyson May — to police.
D’Elio gave evidence during the trial, during which he repeatedly said he “didn’t want any part” in what was taking place that night.
He said he’d never met Mr Gander until the trio met up with him at the Shepparton Village Holiday Park at about 11pm on December 23.
At one point in the night, while in the Territory Clarke had been driving, D’Elio said he realised Mr Gander was in the boot and could hear him getting hit and grunting.
Later on, he said the group left Clarke’s Sunbury Rd house in the Territory and Caprice just before the sun came up.
According to D’Elio, he had “no idea” where Mr Gander was.
He said, however, both cars eventually pulled over in the Zeerust area, where Clarke got out of the Territory, and Stott told D’Elio to drive it, with the Caprice not far behind.
“There was bits of wood stacked along ... the back seat where the head rests would be to the tailgate glass,” he said.
“I realised Mr Gander was still in the back of the car (under the wood).”
He eventually pulled the Territory over on Loch Garry Rd, where it would later be found alight, and got out of the car.
“I then ran back towards my car and got in the back driver’s side and said ‘why did you tell me to drive that car?’” D’Elio said.
He said Stott and Clarke got out of the Caprice and walked to the Territory.
D’Elio said he noticed the Territory was on fire in the rearview mirror of the Caprice.
“At that point I run over to Ms Stott and she was holding a knife, and I’ve snatched that knife out of her hand and threw it on the ground,” D’Elio said.
D’Elio said they then all got in the Caprice and went to Nathalia because Stott said she “wanted to be seen”; however, Clarke had “blood all over his clothes”.
In his closing address, D’Elio’s defence barrister Paul Kounnas told the jury his client was a “tagger along”, “outsider”, “new to the criminal world” and had “no reason to commit murder”.
“Why would someone with no criminal history at all ... act in that way?” he said.
“He told you what happened that night, and it’s a version that aligns almost perfectly with how the prosecution have run their case.”
However, ultimately the jury of 12 rejected D’Elio’s version of events, and unanimously found him guilty of all the charges he was facing.
Stott was found guilty of manslaughter and kidnapping, and not guilty of murder or arson.
Clarke was found guilty of kidnapping, and not guilty of murder, manslaughter or arson.
All three have been remanded in custody and will be back before the court later in July for a mention to set a date for a future plea hearing.
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