Pair jailed for life over country club murder of beloved grandfather

Two men have been sentenced to life in prison for killing Queensland grandfather Gregory Harding.

Mr Harding was shot and bled out in his home during a robbery by Joshua Marcus Pope and Gregory Tremayne Pryor.

The pair will spend at least 20 years in prison.

The television was on and a frypan was on the floor when a golfer discovered the body of a grandfather at a Fraser Coast country club in August 2021.

Craignish Country Club owner Gregory Harding's home was targeted by two men who planned to steal money from his safe, the Supreme Court in Brisbane heard this week.

Joshua Marcus Pope, 35, and Gregory Tremayne Pryor, 30, were found guilty of the 64-year-old's murder and sentenced to life in prison.

They will not be eligible for parole for at least 20 years.

The court heard Pope caused Mr Harding's death by firing a shotgun, loaded with a buckshot, at close range.

The pellets hit Mr Harding's leg, breaking a bone and severing an artery.

Justice Michael Copley said Pope knew how dangerous his shotgun was because he had tried to get a different firearm.

"You did not want to use the weapon that you had because it would blow a person's legs clean off," Justice Copley said.

He said he was satisfied that Pryor knew Pope had the weapon.

Justice Copley told the men they were "far more concerned with covering your tracks" than with helping Mr Harding.

"You could have, but did not, summon an ambulance," he said.

"It may be that you are [remorseful] now … but really you were not remorseful in any meaningful way after you shot the deceased."

Justice Copley said Pope had investigated the club owner's living and business arrangements ahead of the attack on August 15, 2021.

Pope and Pryor were arrested the following day.

The court heard Mr Harding's death had "left a great void" for his family.

"What would further accentuate their grief and suffering is knowing … the lonely circumstances in which he came to die, bleeding away in his house, unable to summon an ambulance for himself," Justice Copley said.

On Thursday, the Harding family thanked those involved in the investigation.

"To the police officers, detectives, field experts, support services and legal teams who played a part in bringing Greg the justice he deserves, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks," the family said in a statement.

"As a family, we are incredibly grateful for the countless hours, unwavering dedication and tireless commitment of everyone involved in investigating these crimes, holding those responsible accountable and ultimately achieving justice for Greg.

"Your efforts have meant more to our family than words could ever adequately express, and we will be forever grateful."

The court heard the pair had also been involved in a ram raid on a Hervey Bay jewellery store earlier on August 15, using a car stolen from the Sunshine Coast.

The men had pleaded guilty to other charges, including break and enter, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Sentences for those charges ranged from four years to one year in custody, to be served concurrently with the murder sentence.