Kerem Aydin, Jacinta Davila face court charged with Dr Michael Yung murder
Security camera footage reveals the moment police found the couple accused of murdering Dr Michael Yung at an Adelaide shopping centre. Watch the video.
Police & Courts
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Dramatic security camera footage has captured the moment police tackled a man suspected of murdering an Adelaide doctor, before chasing down his fleeing partner.
CCTV footage at the Torrensville Plaza shows the couple calmly walking out the door of the shopping centre to the car park about 6.30pm on Tuesday when a police officer suddenly grabs an unsuspecting Kerem Aydin from behind, flinging him to the ground in a single motion.
HIs co-accused partner Jacinta Davila can be seen pushing a pram with a baby as she attempts to make a run for it but is quickly detained by other heavily armed STAR Group officers as startled shoppers watch.
The footage emerged after the couple who allegedly murdered top doctor Michael Yung were caught when they allegedly stole medical supplies from a chemist to treat wounds sustained while breaking into his home, a court has heard.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court has also heard Kerem Aydin and Jacinta Davila can allegedly be linked to Dr Yung’s death by DNA and blood samples – which they are accused of trying to wash out of clothing prior to their arrests.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Michael Jandy was asked to release Ms Davila on bail, with her counsel claiming she was “effectively a single parent” to the couple’s eight-month-old daughter.
“The father is the co-accused, they fell pregnant after a one-night stand … they then tried to co-parent but it’s one of those relationships which hasn’t been particularly effective,” he said.
“They reside together on and off, she’s really a single parent.”
As he spoke, Ms Davila – who appeared by video link from the City Watch House – wept, rocked back and forth and yelled “I just want to be with my family, I just need to be with my baby”.
However, the prosecutor said the case against the couple was too strong to warrant bail, given the risk Ms Davila may “destroy evidence” if released.
“This is a case based on DNA … at the point of entry (into Dr Yung’s home) there was a ladder leading up to a window … it’s not suggested either defendant put it there,” she said.
“There is a fly screen at the top of that ladder which was cut … we say that is the point of entry, it leads into a bedroom … at that spot was a head torch, that’s where the DNA is from.”
She said that there was “an interaction” between the couple and Dr Yung “on the ground floor”.
“The victim was heard to make inquiries as to how they gained entry before there was a loud noise and a scream was heard,” she said.
“The rear door was smashed, the victim was found nearby bleeding profusely from the head … (he had) critical head and spine injuries.”
The prosecutor said CCTV footage showed two people of outside Dr Yung’s home at 4.14am on the morning of the alleged murder, but she “could not speak to” their genders.
She said that, on December 11, Mr Aydin sought medical attention “for injuries caused by glass” and that, the next day, the couple attended Chemist Warehouse at Torrensville.
“They stole a number of items and went into the toilets to treat Mr Aydin’s injuries,” she said.
“They exited the toilet block and went into Drake’s (Foodland) and stole a First Aid kit … this was captured on CCTV footage and they were arrested.”
She said that, during a search of Ms Davila’s house, Major Crime detectives found bloodstained clothing – some of which was in a washing machine – and two pairs of shoes that had glass in them.
That, she said, created a risk Ms Davila may destroy evidence if released.
Ms Davila’s counsel said the allegations would be contested and that any trace of his client’s DNA could be a result of “secondary transfer”.
He said a possible trial would not be held until 2026 or 2027, which “is a long time for a child to wait” for its mother.
He said his client’s child was presently being cared for by her grandmother, but that arrangement could not be made permanent.
Ms Davila should, he said, be bailed to live with her mother and her child in Mile End.
Magistrate Jandy agreed the case appeared strong, but said there was not yet any evidence of Ms Davila being present at Dr Yung’s home.
He said he was prepared to consider home detention bail, pending a report, and remanded her in custody until next week.
Mr Aydin faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court by video link from the City Watch House.
He had a pronounced black left eye, thick medical gauze over his left eyebrow and a visible, healed cut above his left temple.
James Noblett, for Mr Aydin, said there would be no application for bail “at this time”.
“I’ve received some information in relation to the matter, and I’m keeping my powder dry until I receive further information,” he said.
Prosecutors asked for an eight-month adjournment, saying there was an eight-to-12 month wait on forensic analysis results and “DNA samples from three different locations”.
Magistrate Michael Jandy said eight months “is too much” and remanded Mr Aydin in custody to face court again in March.
The couple’s social media accounts feature numerous photos of them with a small child, around Adelaide and overseas.
When The Advertiser visited the address they had listed for their bail bids, occupants appeared to be keeping a low profile.
At 4:13 the house was visited by an Uber driver to drop off a plastic bag with containers of food into the front steps.
A few minutes later a man in his thirties emerged from the back of the house where there is an outdoor seating area to pick up the food, but he declined to make a comment.
On her LinkedIn page, Ms Davila says she is an “honest and hardworking individual” with a “friendly, driven personality” who is seeking employment in the retail industry.
On another account, she has posted a photo of Mr Aydin and their child saying “family is truth, where life begins”.
“You could search the world and never, ever find happiness like this, forever blessed, my monkey and her baba,” she wrote.
On his LinkedIn, Mr Aydin says he “loves to learn new things” because they lead him to “new passions”.
He says he has worked in a number of jobs from glasshouses to exporting goods, installing cameras and retail.
He says he also spent time working “in my family’s sweet shop, selling the sweets”.
At a Mansfield Park property where Mr Aydin lived about a year ago, a woman described the alleged murderers as “nice”.
She said Ms Davila was “polite”.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said she was not aware the couple had been charged with murder.
“No way would I ever think that,” she said.
Police confirmed detectives were not seeking any other suspects and no connection had been identified between the arrested duo and those being sought for a recent crime spree across Adelaide.
Earlier, Acting Commissioner Linda Williams said there was no known connection between the murder charges and Operation Mandrake’s investigation and no other suspects were being sought.
Operation Mandrake officers had been investigating a spate of break-ins in Gilberton, Medindie, Walkerville, Henley Beach, Fulham and Tennyson.
“It certainly appears to be unrelated,” Ms Williams said.
Ms Williams said the duo charged were not linked to Indigenous or African offenders targeted as part of operations Mandrake and Meld.
“The motive is yet to be worked through as part of the investigation but my advice is there’s no connection with the other activity in those suburbs or with any of the persons of interest that we’d normally deal with in Operation Mandrake,” she said.
Police are also appealing for anyone with dashcam footage between midnight and 5am on Monday December 11, within a 500m radius of James Street and Nottage Terrace at Gilberton or who has any information that may assist with the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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