Murder trial: Tia Landers fought for her life with knife, witness tells court

TIA LANDERS was allegedly beaten so severely she couldn’t get to her feet after making a doomed dash for the door to flee her accused murderers, a witness has told a court.

Jake McKenzie told the Supreme Court Tia Landers’ head was “stomped in so many times” she had no teeth left.

TIA LANDERS was allegedly beaten so severely she couldn’t get to her feet after making a doomed dash for the door to flee her accused murderers.

After suffering hours of brutality, which left her virtually unrecognisable, John Edward Harris shot Ms Landers in the head, a court was told.

Witness Jake McKenzie yesterday told the Brisbane Supreme Court that the mother-of-four survived the first bullet and said “no” before she was shot a second time.

Harris and Linda Appleton have both pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Landers after she turned up to their Brighton house on June 16, 2014, with two male companions.

But they have pleaded guilty to interfering with Ms Landers’ corpse and depriving the liberty of Mr McKenzie and Ryan Morgan.

Tia Landers.

Her body, which had more than 30 wounds, was found wrapped in a blanket in a shallow grave in Beerburrum forest in July 2014.

Mr McKenzie, told the jury yesterday Ms Landers’ head was “stomped in so many times” she had no teeth left.

He said the ordeal began after he was asked to leave the couple’s home to collect keys for Ms Landers’ box from her car, while she remained inside.

As the door closed behind him, Mr McKenzie heard a commotion inside, like the sound of a body “being crash-tackled” to the floor.

He told the court he banged on the door before Appleton opened it, brandishing a machete 60cm-70cms in length and appearing “hungry to use it”. Mr McKenzie said he was then taken into the lounge where Appleton wrapped tape around his mouth and wrists, while Harris choked Ms Landers on the floor.

He said Appleton struck Ms Landers’ upper leg with the machete, opening a large wound.

The court heard, after complaining she didn’t feel well, the 28-year-old was placed under a cold shower in a bid to “slow down the bleeding”.

Mr McKenzie recalled as he and Mr Morgan sat on the bathtub, Ms Landers charged out of the bathroom, grabbing a decorative blade as she made a “dash for the door”. But it was ill-fated as the couple managed to stop her and then bashed her so seriously she wasn’t able to stand up, the court heard. He said he later saw her open a draw and grab a steak knife.

“ ... it was (a) pathetic steak knife compared to the weapons they had, but she was still trying,” he said.

The trial continues.