Rex Martinich
A man accused of murder denied to police he knew the woman he was in a relationship with also hooked up with the alleged victim, a magistrate has heard.
Shane Ross Chard, 58, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday for a committal hearing accused of murdering Avzi Ejupi.
Ejupi, 48, was found dead with significant head injuries in the garage of his home in Kingston, south of Brisbane, on May 15, 2022.
Chard was initially questioned to determine if he was a suspect or a witness, Detective Sergeant Shaun McClelland testified.
“Did you say to Chard ‘was Avzi trying to cut your grass?’” defence barrister Charlotte Smith asked McClelland.
“I was just trying to gauge the circumstances and the players involved,” McClelland said.
Smith asked the detective if he said to Chard “you never told (a neighbour) this c—’s f—ing got eyes on your missus?”
“It was language that was comfortable in that environment,” McClelland said.
“I was trying to gauge where Mr Chard fit into the picture.”
Chard later told police in an interview that Ejupi’s death was “just a bit sad”.
He did not recall any time when Ejupi had “hooked up” with the young woman.
Her mother testified Chard spent time with her daughter, whom she had guardianship over, and was “a bit vulnerable”.
“I didn’t mind him staying there as I trusted Shane,” the mother said.
“He hangs around [my daughter]. I didn’t know Shane was in love with [her].”
Bronwyn Casson, who lived nearby, had also testified that Ejupi “had an interest” in the young woman but not recall discussing him having sexually assaulted her.
She could also not recall saying to his relative “it’s lucky nothing ever happened” to Ejupi.
Casson became emotional when describing his death.
“I had to sit with Avzi’s body,” she said.
Casson’s son and flatmate had found the body after seeing blood coming from under the garage door, Mack heard.
“They said Avzi had been hurt really bad and Avzi was dead,” Casson said.
Her son, Cory Casson-McLean, was initially a suspect in Ejupi’s death, McClelland said.
Cory had not left the flat at the time of Ejupi’s death except to go shopping and get heroin with her, Casson testified.
When police arrived, Casson-McLean was “legless … unconscious in an armchair” after taking methadone and other medication.
He has since died, the magistrate heard.
Smith said she conceded Chard had a prima facie case to answer and Mack committed him to stand trial at a date to be fixed.
“Not guilty, Your Honour,” Chard said when asked if he wished to respond.
AAP
