Jay Brogden murder: Braddon Charles Peter Butler pleads not guilty

Both men accused of murdering Jay Brogden 15 years ago in the Whitsundays have now entered pleas. Find out what happens next

The second of two men accused of killing Jay Brogden in the Whitsunday cold case has entered his plea as the court moves to hold separate murder trials.

Braddon Charles Peter Butler was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge in Mackay Supreme Court on Friday, two days after co-accused Gavin Philip Parnell entered the same plea.

Jay Brogden went missing on April 21, 2007. His body has never been found.

Both men are remanded in custody and were flown to Mackay to appear in the courthouse in person.

Mr Brogden, 21, vanished in 2007 – he was last seen at Cannonvale on April 21 and his body has never been found.

In 2019 Mr Butler and Mr Parnell were both charged with murdering Mr Brogden sometime between April 12 and May 10, 2007 at Airlie Beach or elsewhere.

Mr Butler’s matter was originally listed for an application for the two co-accused to have separate proceedings in the supreme court.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane said he acceded to the request for the matters to proceed separately with Mr Parnell’s case to be listed first in the May sittings.

The court heard Mr Parnell’s case, if it proceeded, would take about eight days after Justice David North questioned the time frame.

“There are a lot of witnesses,” Justice North.

Mr Parnell’s trial is expected to begin May 4, with Mr Butler’s matter listed as the reserve trial in that same sittings.

The court heard Mr Butler’s matter would take just more than one week.