Former drug associate Wojciech Uhle gives evidence in Steven Hainsworth murder trial

The former drug associate of an alleged triple murderer said he came to his house with blood-stained jeans and wanted to trade in stolen goods to Cash Converters, a court heard.

The former drug associate of an alleged triple murderer said he came to his house one morning with blood stains on his jeans and a bag of stolen goods, a court heard.

Steven Leslie Hainsworth is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the alleged murders of his aunt, Beverley Hanley, as well as pensioners, Phyllis Harrison and Stephen Newton.
On Thursday, Wojciech Uhle told the court he and Mr Hainsworth would regularly take methamphetamine together in 2010.

Photos of Beverley Hanley's house. Photos: Courts SA

Beverley Hanley's house was left a mess after the alleged murder. Photos: Courts SA

He said he remembered one morning when Mr Hainsworth came to his house with no shoes and he had to lend him some track pants.

“There were blood stains on his jeans … he said that he jumped a fence,” he said.

Mr Uhle said Mr Hainsworth had a whipper snipper, a lawn mower, jewellery, including antique rings, and a camera - which he said he got from his mother or ex.
“They wanted me to hock it in to Cash Converters and I said no,” he said.

“I wouldn’t do it because it was stolen … I didn’t want to get in trouble for that.”
In cross examination, the court heard Mr Uhle had previously been jailed for stealing a bobcat.

Prosecutor Amelia Cairney said Ms Hanley died from both blunt force trauma and incisions to her neck that cut her carotid artery and jugular.

A bloody cricket bat was found near her body, she said, along with bloody footprints.
The court heard Mrs Hanley kept a cricket bat by the front door for protection, which was missing after the murder.

Ms Cairney said Mrs Hanley’s home had been ransacked and that, notably, her digital camera and three-ring jewellery set “with missing stones” were taken.

That camera was later recovered at a local pawn shop, having been pawned by one of Mr Hainsworth’s associates at his request, the court was told.

Mr Hainsworth, 49, of Mildura in Victoria, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mrs Hanley, his former neighbour Phyllis Harrison, and associate Stephen Newton, between 1998 and 2011.

Mrs Harrison was stabbed and Mr Newton was punched to death before items in his home were spray-painted green.

Prosecutors allege all three pensioners were alone in their homes and vulnerable when Mr Hainsworth killed them, and then stole their possessions to finance his illicit drug use.

Beverley Hanley’s younger sister, Cheryl McGee leaving court with family members, after giving evidence. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

Steven Hainsworth arrives in Adelaide after being extradited from Melbourne. Picture: Brenton Edwards.

The trial continues.