George Kirk murder in Dubbo results in 17‑year jail sentence for attacker

Mark Peckham was sentenced by Justice Nicholas Chen of the New South Wales Supreme Court to a non‑parole period of 17½ years for the murder of drug dealer George Kirk during a botched robbery at a house in Dubbo, western NSW. The attack occurred in the early hours of 16 August 2023 after Peckham and associate Daniel Fitton broke into Kirk's bedroom, accusing him of treating them “like gronks”. Peckham repeatedly stabbed Kirk, who later died despite attempts by the victim’s partner to apply pressure to the wound.

Fitton pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation and received a maximum sentence of 15 months. The court noted Peckham entered the home unannounced while on bail for an earlier assault, and he expressed remorse only after the killing, saying, “I got treated like a gronk, so I took him out.” Peckham will be eligible for parole in July 2043.