Bryce Cliff was found guilty of murdering Kooringal High School student James Cleghorn during a Wagga Supreme Court trial in February. 

After more than two weeks of evidence, the jury spent about three hours deliberating. 

The teenager was stabbed about 30 times, including once in the heart, at his Acacia Street home on June 7, 2016.  

Cliff, 30, of Wollongong, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. 

There were 47 injuries on various parts of James’ body including about 20 defence wounds to his hands and fingers. 

One fatal knife to the heart caused James to stop breathing. 

During the sentence hearing on Friday, Cliff was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 22 years. 

He will be eligible for parole on June 6, 2040. 

During the trial, the court heard Cliff had dated James’ step-sister, Preem (also known as Proy) Paiboonbudsrakam, for more than six years before the relationship ended in 2013.

James’ father Glenn Cleghorn said he was “quite happy” that justice had been served with a lengthy sentence. 

“Our family is (pleased) and I’m sure their family is not,” he said. 

“It’s not closure because James was a really nice individual and will always be in our hearts. 

“I’m pretty emotional about it all.”

Mr Cleghorn said he wanted the community to remember James as a “happy, nice kid”. 

"He was just a great kid and I love him dearly,” he said. 

Ms Paiboonbudsrakam said it had been a difficult journey for the whole family and thanked everyone for their support. 

“Obviously nothing is going to bring him back but I think it’s the best outcome we could’ve gotten today,” she said. 

“It’s going to be hard because it’s a long road but we’ve always been there for each other.” 

Ms Paiboonbudsrakam it was a relief to have some closure after years of waiting and she hoped James would be remembered as a “loving, beautiful boy”. 

“The trial was hard hearing a lot of things we didn’t know about, especially with the injuries inflicted on James,” she said. 

“Now we can move on to the next stage of grieving instead of coming back and forward to court.”

Judge Stephen Campbell said he was satisfied the murder wasn’t premeditated. 

“I am not persuaded that James in any way provoked the offender,” he said. 

“I am to accept the conversation (prior to the murder) did deteriorate when James brought up Proy and the relationship, touching a raw nerve,” he said. 

Judge Campbell said Cliff had “lost control and lashed out” due to his ongoing bitterness about the relationship, which was enhanced by his intoxication. 

Judge Campbell said it was clear from the evidence presented during the trial that James had attempted to get away throughout the attack. 

“It does seem clear that he (Cliff) intended to attend the home that evening,” he said. 

“His true reason for coming to Wagga remains a mystery but he obviously intended to go to Acacia Street when the family would be out.” 

Judge Campbell said he didn’t accept Cliff’s claim that he had visited Wagga to see James’ father about the registration of a car sale. 

“The loss suffered by the family is an aspect of the harm done to the community,” he said. 

“I offer the court’s condolences to all of the family and appreciate all will be permanently effected by these crimes.” 

Crown prosecutor Max Pincott said he wished the Cleghorn family “all the best”. 

Cliff was also sentenced for one year imprisonment for stealing a car and three years for an aggravated break and enter in his attempts to get away from the crime scene. 

Those sentences will run concurrently with the total 30 years for the murder. 

February 7 – day one

A neighbour of a Kooringal High School student stabbed to death reported a sound of “absolute terror” moments before seeing the teenager and his alleged murderer, a court has heard.

Crown prosecutor Max Pincott said the teenager’s neighbour Wade Garland, who lived beneath James’s Acacia Street home, heard the “distinct sound of a human being in absolute distress” on the night of the incident.

More here. 

February 9 – day three 

A witness has recalled a Kooringal High School student revealing he was going to be killed, just moments before he was stabbed to death.

Rushing outside, Mr Garland recalled the moment he “f***en legged it”, before seeing James Cleghorn flit past him, fleeing his upstairs unit.

“I was 'bout to grab a hold of him and he slipped out of my hands saying, 'he's going to kill me’,” Mr Garland said.

More here.

February 12 – day four 

A witness has revealed he grabbed a knife to defend himself after a mysterious man appeared in his backyard, after a Kooringal High School student was stabbed to death.

Kristy Jade was at home with her partner when she heard her two dogs barking about 8pm. 

Ms Jade went outside to investigate where she was confronted by a man who came “staggering” toward her in the darkness.

More here. 

February 14 – day six 

The father of Kooringal High School student James Cleghorn has revealed the man accused of murdering his son was “part of the family”.

“They never had any arguments?” Mr Pincott said.

“That’s correct,” Mr Cleghorn said.

“You said he was like a brother to them?” Mr Pincott said.

“Yes, he was like part of the family,” Mr Cleghorn said.

More here. 

February 15 – day seven 

The mother of Kooringal High School student James Cleghorn has broken down in tears while recalling the night of her son’s alleged murder.

The court heard James wasn’t feeling well and had stayed home from school the day he was allegedly stabbed to death. 

Blood spatter analyst Sergeant Kristan Cox told the court “a good deal” of the incident had occurred in the dining and kitchen area at the Acacia Street home.

More here. 

February 16 – day eight 

The half-sister of James Cleghorn has given evidence that the man accused of murdering the Kooringal High School student continued to contact her despite blocking him on Facebook.

The pair dated for more than six years before the relationship ended in 2013 and despite creating a new profile, Cliff had continued to send her Facebook messages.

The court heard Cliff took a train from Moss Vale and arrived in Wagga about 2pm that day.

CCTV captured Cliff wandering around Kooringal Mall and the Marketplace, before he was picked up by a taxi.

More here. 

February 19 – day nine 

A man accused of murdering a Kooringal High School student has told the court about the moment he picked up a knife in “panic” after “trying to calm himself”.

In his testimony, Cliff admitted that on the day in question he struck James to the face, causing him to fall on the ground.

More here.  

February 22 – day 12

A Crown prosecutor has described the alleged murder of a 16-year-old Kooringal High School student in one chilling final word – “brutal”.

In the final words the jury heard from the Crown on Thursday, Max Pincott reminded the court of James’ final message before he was stabbed about 30 times.

James’ school friend had told him he would not be coming over to play games that afternoon, to which he replied “brutal”.

“He couldn’t possibly have known that very word would describe the attack that ended his life – within the next hour,” Mr Pincott said.

More here. 

February 23 – day 13 

A jury is set to start deliberating in the Wagga Supreme Court trial against Bryce Cliff, who is accused of murdering a 16-year-old Kooringal High School student.

Judge Stephen Campbell told the jury to take the weekend to refresh before starting to consider the case on Monday. 

February 26 – day 14 

The jury finds Bryce Cliff guilty of murdering James Cleghorn, after about three hours of deliberation. 

More here. 

April 2 – day 1 of sentence hearing 

The family of James Cleghorn has broken down while delivering victim impact statements, recalling the moment their lives changed forever. 

James’ father Glenn Cleghorn began to weep as he told the court on Wednesday that his son would never have a chance to grow up. 

“I will never have the opportunity to see my son get married, have children or witness any of his achievements,” he said. 

“This has all been taken away by his brutal and untimely death.

“I will never be able to hold my son again and tell him how much I love him.” 

More here. 

April 4 – sentence delivered