Alleged Uber murderer Tye Wayne Porter in court for committal hearing

For the first time, police have revealed in court what a young man allegedly said when he was charged with the murder of Hervey Bay Uber driver Scott Cabrie.

Tye Wayne Porter, 19, will face trial in Maryborough Supreme Court for the murder of Scott Cabrie, 47.

The detective who arrested the man accused of murdering Hervey Bay Uber driver Scott Cabrie has given evidence in a dramatic day in Hervey Bay Magistrate Court.

Senior Constable Daniel France was one of two officers who arrested Tye Wayne Porter, 19, at Boat Harbour Drive in Torquay on February 12, 2023, on charges relating to the murder of Uber driver Scott Andrew Cabrie, 47.

Mr Porter and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons are alleged to have murdered Mr Cabrie, 47, on February 6, 2023.

Mr Cabrie’s body was discovered dumped at a boat ramp in Howard the following day with his car later found burnt out.

Snr Const France told the court Mr Porter had been given “the opportunity to attend Hervey Bay Police Station, voluntarily, but refused to do so and was arrested at the property he had been living on and off at”.

Snr Const France when questioned by Mr Porter’s lawyer Justin Geldard about why his client was arrested, told the court “we were satisfied at the time we had enough evidence to validate the offence” and his involvement in it.

Upon arriving at the watch-house Mr Porter spoke with his brother before getting taken into the cells and later the interview room.

Hervey Bay Uber driver Scott Cabrie is alleged to have been murdered by Tye Wayne Porter and an accomplice on February 6, 2023.

Initially, “(Mr) Porter denied involvement with the incident, saying he had not seen the other suspect for 12-18 months,” Snr Const France told the court.

Along with denying involvement with the incident, Mr Porter was told “five to six times” he was entitled to legal assistance but denied it each time, he said.

It would take until 6pm for Mr Porter to request legal representation.

With authorities only being able to hold somebody for eight hours without charge, at 6:46pm Snr Const France informed Mr Porter he would be charged with Mr Cabrie’s murder.

Mr Porter then gave an account of what occurred on the night, saying “we were supposed to steal a car, chuck some skids, I never meant for any of this to happen”.

Snr Const France told the court Mr Porter told him he “told the co-accused to stop” and that “Porter said he thought the other suspect was going to kill this guy (Mr Cabrie).”

Tye Wayne Porter, 19, will face trial in the Maryborough Supreme Court charged with murdering Scott Cabrie.

When questioned by Mr Geldard over Mr Porter’s co-operation, Snr Const France said “um on the face of it, I’m not sure what his motives are, but he was”.

Snr Const France told the court that any conversation with Mr Porter barring “necessary formalities” was all recorded on either his bodywork camera or on the monitors of the interview room.

Along with Snr Const France’s testimony, 123 exhibits of evidence were presented by prosecutor Sonja Edwards as a part of the Director of Public Prosecutions case against Mr Porter.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie told Mr Porter: “I am satisfied there is enough evidence to formally charge you”.

Along with a count of murder, Mr Porter is charged with one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, arson, armed robbery and deprivation of liberty unlawfully detained.

Mr Porter denied the chance given by Mrs McGarvie to speak at the end of the proceedings, simply replying “No, your honour”.

Throughout the hearing, Mr Porter sat in the defendant’s box in his prison-issued shirt and shorts with two correctional officers guarding him.

He appeared emotionless throughout the hearing, sitting stony-faced throughout Snrt Const France’s cross-examination.

Mr Cabrie’s family and friends were also present in the public gallery.

Mr Porter was committed to the Maryborough Supreme Court and with no application for bail submitted, will remain in custody until the trial date.

His co-accused’s proceedings continue in closed court.

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