A 16-year-old girl who lured a man to her property so he could be ambushed and bashed, resulting in the alleged murder of his stepson, was "jovial and happy" as she did so, a jury has been told.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A witness told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that she had observed the girl at a Smythesdale house in the early hours of January 5 last year.
The witness said the girl, who cannot be named, was laughing as she said she had prowlers at her Scarsdale property and needed the help of a man at the Smythesdale house, Peter Williams.
Darren Wilson, 34, of Ballarat, is standing trial in the Supreme Court having pleaded not guilty to the murder in which Mr Williams' stepson, Timothy O'Brien, was allegedly hit up to 20 times with an axe.
The trial has heard Timothy, 14, went with his stepfather, armed with a baseball bat and in search of prowlers.
EARLIER IN THE TRIAL:
Mr Williams was bashed by Wilson on arrival at the girl's Scarsdale house, while Timothy used the baseball bat to hit Wilson.
Another man was also hit by Timothy before the man chased Timothy out of the house and allegedly began to strike him with an axe.
Wilson is accused of then punching Timothy before picking up the axe, turning it over to its bladed side, and repeatedly striking the 14-year-old.
Timothy's mother, Deborah O'Brien, told the jury on Monday she had tried to stop Timothy from going, but couldn't.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said in his opening address to the jury it was an "inseparable bond" between Mr Williams and his stepson which ultimately cost Timothy his life.
Timothy's body was found by police at a Scarsdale house on the morning of January 5 last year.
The jury has heard Wilson had been discussing plans to "flog" his cousin, Peter Williams, in the days leading up to the alleged murder and that Wilson and the 16-year-old girl organised to lure Mr Williams to the property.
The jury heard Wilson and another man were picked up by an associate, Lisa Trezise, the night before the alleged murder.
Trezise, with her two young children in the car, drove the men to the Scarsdale farmhouse before she and two teenage girls drove to Mr Williams' home and lured him back, telling him they were scared of prowlers.
The trial before Justice Betty King continues.
