A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy who allegedly witnessed the brutal axe murder of autistic Scarsdale teenager Timothy O’Brien will be called as a key witness in the Crown’s case.
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Three people faced Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday in relation to the murder on January 5 this year, when the 14-year-old victim was allegedly bludgeoned to death with an axe.
Two Ballarat men, Joel Henderson, 40, and Darren Wilson, 33, stand accused of murdering the teenager.
Lawyers for Wilson said they would soon apply for bail in the belief that he was innocent. “The essence of the issue is whether my client was there when the attack took place,” barrister Tom Danos told the court.
A third co-accused, Lisa Trezise, 28, is alleged to have been at the scene of the murder, where she helped the accused killers flee before attempting to destroy evidence. It is also alleged that Trezise assaulted Timothy’s stepfather, Peter Williams.
Trezise faces multiple charges, including obstructing the cause of justice, intentionally causing serious injury, and recklessly causing serious injury. It is Trezise’s seven-year-old son who the Crown will call as its key witness. The court heard the seven-year-old and his five-year-old sister observed the alleged murder.
Mr Williams and his stepson Timothy had gone to the house in Scarsdale about 5am on January 5 this year after receiving a phone call from a teenage girl who said she was being threatened.
It is alleged an altercation occurred when the pair arrived at the Carlyle Street house.
More than 10 witnesses will be called on October 21 when Wilson returns to Ballarat Magistrates Court for a five-day committal hearing.
Henderson will re-appear on July 18 for a further committal mention hearing. Trezise will re-appear on August 20.
