Questions over accused's clothes in Milos murder trial

The drinking buddy of the man accused of murdering Sunshine Coast chef Peter Milos disputed that James Howell was wearing stained clothes.

THE man accused of killing Sunshine Coast chef Peter Milos changed out of the clothes he was wearing when the alleged killing occurred, his drinking buddy has told a court.

But the woman denied accused murderer James Thomas Howell's clothes or body had any strange marks or stains on them before he changed out of them.

Mr Howell has pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to Mr Milos's death in May 2014.

Mr Howell has been accused of bashing Mr Milos to death. Mr Milos's body was found in the garage of a house he was minding in the inner-eastern Brisbane suburb of Morningside.

Mr Milos grew up and was trained as a chef on the Sunshine Coast before moving to Brisbane to work.

Mr Howell's friend Shelly Swanson said she and her son spent the evening after the alleged murder drinking Jack Daniels and coke at Mr Howell's home.

She said she went to his house uninvited after he had failed to show up for planned drinks the night before. Ms Swanson said she saw Mr Howell returning home carrying plastic bags containing KFC and alcohol.

Ms Swanson said although he normally wore a singlet and shorts she noticed he was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. She told the court she gave him a hug and did not notice any stains or marks on the clothes. Ms Swanson said soon after he changed out of the clothes.

CCTV footage from the Morningside train station overpass and the nearby KFC show him wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

In a recorded police interview played to the jury Mr Howell said he called Ms Swanson asking her to come around for a drink. He said he left to get more drinks and told police he was wearing a singlet and shorts.

During the interview Mr Howell told police he had travelled with Mr Milos to see someone about a drug debt the day before the alleged murder. He said he sat at a bus stop while Mr Milos and the other man yelled at each other.

In the recording Mr Howell said he did not remember if he spoke to Mr Milos after that. The trial continues.

ARM NEWSDESK

Originally published as Questions over accused's clothes in Milos murder trial