Discarded cigarette butt links accused Aaron Donald Carver to the murder of Albanian man in Para Vista drug house
A DISCARDED cigarette butt links an alleged murderer, who was extradited from Queensland on the weekend, to the death of an Albanian man at a Para Vista drug house, a court has heard.
A DISCARDED cigarette butt links an alleged murderer to the death of an Albanian man at a Para Vista drug house, a court has heard.
Aaron Donald Carver, 35, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday following his extradition from Queensland last week.
He made no application for bail, but SA Police drew the ire of Magistrate Simon Smart when they asked the case be adjourned for 14 months.
They said a cigarette butt found at the scene had tested positive for Carver’s DNA, prompting his arrest interstate.
They added the state’s Forensic Science Centre needed time to process “hundreds” of additional pieces of evidence for DNA matches - a delay Mr Smart dubbed “extraordinary”.
“Is the position that the Forensic Science Centre is so under-resourced, or so under stress, that it cannot produce results for 14 months?” he asked.
“If the preliminary DNA result was enough to arrest him, then this is an extraordinary delay.”
Carver has yet to plead to allegations he murdered the man, 46, whose body was found at Carousel St, Para Vista, on October 12.
Police allege the man had been killed three days earlier, and had sustained injuries consistent with a severe assault.
The house was allegedly used as a cannabis grow house, and the dead man’s car was taken from the property.
It is further alleged Carver was part of a criminal group based in Murray Bridge, and was one of several men recorded on CCTV heading toward and leaving the house.
The Advertiser understands SA Police have recovered evidence from properties in Queensland, Victoria and NSW connected to the case, and want that material checked for DNA as well.
On Monday, police prosecutors told the court that the CCTV showed a man - allegedly Carver - smoking as the group walked toward the house.
They said that footage, and the DNA match, had sparked the arrest but the Director of Public Prosecutions wanted all DNA results completed before determining the progress of the case.
Mr Smart said he and the Director “were at odds” as to the benefit of waiting 14 months before progressing the matter.
“I will give you six months,” he said.
He remanded Carver in custody until March.