Steven Hainsworth trial hears accused murderer said he ‘bashed the f**k’ out of alleged victim before selling his TV and pawning off other belongings

An alleged serial killer said he had “bashed the f**k” out of one of his three alleged victims and thought he was dead before stealing his belongings, a court has heard.

An alleged serial killed told an acquaintance he “bashed the f**k” out of one of his three alleged victims - thinking he may have killed him - before stealing his video games and TV to sell, a court has heard.

Steven Leslie Hainsworth, 49, of Mildura, Victoria, is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the alleged murders of his next-door neighbour Phyllis Harrison, 71, in March 1998, his aunt Beverley Hanley, 64, in October 2010, and his associate Stephen Newton, 55.

Steven Hainsworth being extradited in 2019. Picture Dean Martin.

Mr Newton’s badly decomposed body was found in a bedroom of his Davison St home in Mount Gambier on November 4, 2011.

The grisly discovery was made a day after his family reported him missing, but the court heard on Monday he had not been seen alive for at least a few weeks before that.

The trial of Mr Hainsworth, began last month in Adelaide, but has moved to Mount Gambier for this week to hear evidence relating to Mr Newton’s alleged murder in 2011.

Phyllis Harrison, left, Beverley Hanley and Stephen Newton.

On Wednesday, former Mount Gambier resident Sharon Ellard told the court that in 2011, Mr Hainsworth offered to sell her some computer games.

She said he initially didn’t tell her where the games came from, but subsequently told her that “he stole them”.

“He said he got it from an old fella’s place - (someone called) Stephen,” Ms Ellard said.

“He said that he bashed him ... said it happened on Davis Street or something like that.

“He said that he bashed the f**k out of him and that he thinks that he killed him.”

Ms Ellard told the court that in addition to the computer games, Mr Hainsworth also offered to sell her a flat screen TV but she declined to buy any of the items.

The trial previously heard Mr Hainsworth was a “known associate” of Mr Newton – who was determined to have been “punched to death” before evidence inside his home was spray-painted green in an attempt to “conceal” it.

Earlier in the week, Senior Constable Andrew Kent told the court police attended Mr Newton’s house on November 4 around 10:15am to investigate the missing persons report and claims from his family that his 50-inch LG plasma TV had been stolen.

He said a strong odour forced the officers to use respirators inside the home and when police entered the house for the second time that morning, they discovered Mr Newton’s body in a bedroom - largely concealed under a pile of rubbish.

Detectives investigate the alleged murder of Stephen Newton in 2011 who was found inside his Mount Gambier home, which had been robbed.

On Tuesday, the court heard from multiple acquaintances of Mr Hainsworth – who was living around the corner from Mr Newton at the time of his death – that the accused was telling people on the day of the AFL 2011 Grand Final he “had a TV he wanted to get rid of”.

“He wanted marijuana and cash for it at first but I didn’t have any (marijuana),” Brian Perry – who ended up buying the TV from Mr Hainsworth that day – told the court.

“But since he said he was doing it tough and his daughter’s birthday was coming up, I wanted to help him out.”

Mr Perry said he paid Mr Hainsworth $300 and his own small flat-screen in exchange for the LG TV.

“I asked if it was stolen or some kind of insurance job as it was too nice of a TV for him to want to get rid of but he told me it wasn’t.”

The court also heard hat Mr Hainsworth had an acquaintance take other belongings – including some with Mr Newton’s name on them – to local pawn shops.

Former Cardinia St resident Vanessa Anderson, told the court that she pawned a whipper snipper, as well as a PlayStation console, PlayStation games and DVDs on behalf of Mr Hainsworth because he said he didn’t have the required ID to do it himself.

The proprietor of one of the shops that received the collection of DVDs and games said the items had the name Steve Newton engraved on them.

He told the court he and his wife called the police as soon as they recognised Mr Newton’s name.

The trial, before Justice Adam Kimber and without a jury, continues.