John Chardon pleads not guilty to 2013 murder of wife Novy Chardon

Accused killer John Chardon, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife Novy, allegedly cleaned the carpet of her bedroom the day after she went missing, a court has heard.

ACCUSED killer John Chardon allegedly cleaned the carpet of his wife Novy’s bedroom the day after she went missing, a court has heard.

The lubricant businessman is on trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane for the murder of Novy Chardon, in February 2013.

He has pleaded not guilty.

John Chardon was arrested and charged in 2016 in relation to the alleged murder of his wife Novy Chardon. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Novy was last seen on February 6, 2013.

She has not used her bank accounts, left the country or seen a doctor since that date but her body has never been found, the court heard.

Her car was found nearby the Nerang train station about five days after Novy went missing but CCTV reviewed by police did not show her at the station, the court heard.

The jury was today told Novy met John Chardon in 2000 and the couple later married.

But in 2009, friends reported “issues in the marriage”, the court heard.

By 2012, the pair lived separated under one roof, each having several affairs, the court heard.

The court heard Novy had told friends she had seen a lawyer in the days before she went missing and the same lawyer had prepared a legal letter, which was sent to Chardon on February 6, 2013.

Crown prosecutor Mark Green today told the jury it is the prosecution case Chardon killed Novy after receiving a letter from the solicitor about their separation.

“Novy Chardon is dead and she was murdered by the defendant, John Chardon. This trial is that story,” he said.

“In telling you that story … you’ll see that it is not a story in the traditional sense with a complete middle and end.

“It’s a story … where some pages are missing …

“It’s a story, never-the-less, that will lead you to … reach that conclusion.”

During his opening address, Mr Green told the court, Novy had spoken to friends about finalising her separation with Chardon and had been visibly upset about her marriage on the day she disappeared.

After being unable to contact Novy the next day, a friend went to Novy and Chardon’s home.

The court heard Chardon told the friend Novy had packed her bags the night before and left.

He allegedly told the friend the house was a mess, showing her Novy’s bedroom and saying he had cleaned the carpet, the court heard.

Mr Green told the jury the friend was expected to give evidence the carpet was wet and a rug, which had been in the home was missing.

“Because this is an entirely circumstantial case, there will be parts of the story that are missing but the story will be compelling enough for you to know what those missing parts are,” Mr Green said.

In a short opening address, defence barrister Tony Kimmins said Chardon was an “arrogant” and “sexist” man but “not a murderer”.

The trial continues.