Simeon Blair guilty of murder, sentenced to life in prison

MARYBOROUGH man Simeon Frederick Blair, 22, has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering Cleveland Paul Clay.

The jurors made their decision on Tuesday afternoon after a lengthy trial in the Maryborough Supreme Court which heard from more than 25 witnesses.

Blair had pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Clay, who was 31-years-old when he died, with a piece of wood at the back of the Carlton Hotel in the early hours of April 28, 2012.  

Both men had been drinking on the night and had not previously met.

Blair also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault occasioning bodily harm after attacking a security guard at Lounge 1868 in Maryborough on March 17, 2012.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for that charge, taking into account time already served in custody.