AN “inseparable” closeness to his stepfather ultimately cost autistic teenager Timothy O’Brien his life in an “incomprehensible” crime which saw the 14-year-old allegedly chopped to death with an axe, a Supreme Court jury has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Timothy’s lifeless body was found by police at a Scarsdale farmhouse on the morning of January 5 last year.
One of the Ballarat men charged over Timothy’s death, Darren Wilson, 34, is standing trial in the Supreme Court having pleaded not guilty to murder which Crown prosecutors said was an example of the often “cruel and vicious” world we live in.
“The world can be a cruel and vicious place sometimes,” Crown prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said in his opening address to the jury.
“The very idea of two men killing a 14-year-old autistic boy ... with an axe ... is almost incomprehensible.
“There will be no dispute that Timothy O’Brien was killed by being struck to the head with an axe.
“On the prosecution case, he (Wilson) was the prime mover of the crime, with his prime partner ...”
Outlining the facts of the case, Mr Tinney told the jury Wilson, with the help of others, devised a plan to lure Timothy’s stepfather, Peter Williams, to the Scarsdale farmhouse with a plan to bash him.
Mr Tinney told the jury Wilson and Mr Williams were first cousins whose relationship had deteriorated in the lead-up to the alleged murder of Timothy.
“The accused harboured considerable animosity towards Peter Williams,” Mr Tinney said.
The jury heard police had spoken to Wilson about his deteriorating relationship with Mr Williams, with Wilson saying “I will kill him” to a local officer.
“The policeman took this as a throw-away line,” Mr Tinney told the jury.
Mr Tinney said Wilson then became “interested” in a 16-year-old girl living at the Scarsdale farmhouse where Timothy’s body was eventually found.
The jury heard that the girl knew Peter Williams as well, with Mr Williams often going to her house to do gardening and maintenance work.
It was with this girl that Wilson first discussed the plan to lure Mr Williams to her home, in order for Wilson to bash him.
Detailing the events of about 4am on January 5, Mr Tinney said Wilson was driven to the girl’s house by a friend, Lisa Trezise. Also in the car was another man and Trezise’s two young children.
The jury heard Trezise, the teenage girl and another girl drove to Peter Williams’ home and lured him back to the house under the pretence there were prowlers.
Mr Tinney said Timothy, armed with a baseball bat, went with his stepfather because of their close relationship.
“That loyalty and that closeness were to cost young Timmy his life,” Mr Tinney said.
Mr Tinney said Wilson jumped from a bedroom and began assaulting Mr Williams when he and Timothy arrived at the house.
He said Timothy used the baseball bat to hit Wilson, knocking him to the ground.
The jury heard the co-accused then chased Timothy out of the house, carrying an axe.
Mr Tinney said the co-accused was seen by witnesses on top of Timothy, strangling him.
He alleged the co-accused then used the blunt side of the axe to strike Timothy in the body and head.
He said a witness heard the co-accused shouting “die (expletive) die”.
Mr Tinney said Wilson then came out the house and began punching Timothy, before picking up the axe, turning it over to its bladed side, and allegedly striking Timothy in the head. “He (Timothy) came to the aid of his stepfather and he was killed for his trouble,” Mr Tinney said.
The trial before Justice Betty King continues with the jury to visit the scene on Wednesday.