Accused Primbee Killer Denied Bail
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday January 9, 2003
THE Crown case against an apprentice mechanic charged with the murder of a Primbee caravan park resident appeared to be ``as strong as it gets", a Wollongong magistrate said yesterday.
Michael Thomas O'Leary, who has no prior convictions, was yesterday denied bail for the third time.
The court heard that the 22-year-old allegedly told police that he had assaulted and choked Maxwell Gordon Abbott, 60, and stuffed him into a cupboard while he was still alive.
``The prosecution case is that he savagely assaulted the victim and with total disregard to his welfare, put him in a cupboard and left him there to check on him the next day when he found him dead," Chris McRobert said.
He said that O'Leary was quite rightly to be presumed innocent, but the admissions to police had not been challenged by the defence during the bail hearing and that at first blush the Crown case seemed to be ``overwhelming" and ``about as strong as gets".
The court heard that O'Leary was in possession of some of Mr Abbott's belongings and there was evidence that he had allegedly pawned some items.
A tendered police document said that O'Leary and Mr Abbott had shared a cabin at the South Pacific Village caravan park in Windang Rd.
On the night of the alleged attack police said they had argued over money.
O'Leary's father, who attended court yesterday, was willing to put up surety for his son's release from custody.
Legal Aid Commission solicitor Gary Leo said that O'Leary was also willing to report to police daily.
But Mr McRobert refused him bail and adjourned the matter until March 19 for further mention.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury