James Farquhar pleads not guilty to murdering Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes in Geelong’s CBD
The man accused of murdering Corio barber Jayme “Chugs” Sykes in an alleged CBD knife attack will fight the charge in the Supreme Court, a court has heard.
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The man accused of stabbing Corio barber Jayme “Chugs” Sykes to death in Geelong’s city centre has pleaded not guilty to murder, with his fight against the charge now headed straight to the Supreme Court.
James Farquhar, 26, appeared via videolink in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a brief committal mention.
The Colac man faces a single charge of murder over the death of 20-year-old Jayme “Chugs” Sykes, who was fatally stabbed on Little Malop St in the early hours of October 27 last year.
When the matter was called, Mr Farquhar’s lawyer, Simon Northeast, told the court Mr Farquhar’s case was being fast-tracked to the Supreme Court.
Magistrate Gerard Bryant asked Mr Northeast if his client was “dispensing the need” for a committal hearing, to which Mr Northeast agreed.
Jordan Vassis, representing the Office of Public Prosecutions, asked the court to strike out any remaining compulsory examination applications.
The OPP had previously sought to compel three alleged witnesses to give statements through compulsory examination.
Last month, an arrest warrant was issued for one of the men after he failed to appear in court for the examination.
On Tuesday, Mr Vassis confirmed all three men had now given statements to police and asked if any applications remaining on the court system could be struck out.
Following this discussion, Mr Bryant read Mr Farquhar a committal caution, and asked him how he pleaded to the charges.
“Not guilty your honour,” Mr Farquhar said.
The hand-up brief was tendered by Mr Vassis after Mr Farquhar’s plea was entered.
Mr Farquhar will next appear in the Supreme Court in Melbourne for a directions hearing on May 23.
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Originally published as James Farquhar pleads not guilty to murdering Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes in Geelong’s CBD
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