Murderer swears at family of slain farmhand Justin McFarlane after sentencing taunts

Justin Conrad McFarlane was beaten to death.

Four men were jailed today for murdering a farmhand in North Otago.

But during sentencing the friends and family of the murder victim began taunting one of the convicted men, who responded by swearing back at them.

Steven Kenneth Boskell, 20, of Palmerston and Ryan Warren Geary-Smart, 24, and Robert James Cummings, 23, both of Oamaru, were sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in prison for the murder of Justin Conrad McFarlane at his house in September 2013.

Jacob Christopher Geary-Smart, 23, also of Oamaru, was sentenced to minimum of 17 years in prison for the same crime.

Robert James Cummings, Jacob Christope Geary-Smart, Ryan Warren Geary-Smart, Steven Kenneth Boskell. Photo / Supplied

Stephanie Rose McCormack, 27, was found guilty late last year to being an accessory after the fact of murder. She received eight months' home detention.

Mr McFarlane, 35, was found dead at his Elderslie house, inland from Oamaru, after "a long brutal beating".

Supporters of Mr McFarlane yelled "bye", and other things, as the five were taken from the court.

Ryan Geary-Smart turned and replied: "F*** you, f*** the world."