Jay Brogden murder: Gavin Philip Parnell pleads not guilty

One of the two men accused over the Whitsunday cold case has formally entered pleas, while the other alleged killer intends to apply to have separate proceedings.

One of the two men accused of murdering Jay Brogden in the Whitsundays almost 15 years ago has formally pleaded not guilty to the charge, while the other alleged killer intends to apply to have separate proceedings.

Gavin Philip Parnell and Braddon Charles Peter Butler are both charged with murder over the alleged cold case homicide.

The 21 year old was last seen at Cannonvale on April 21, 2007 before he vanished – his body has never been found and the mystery of what happened has prevailed since.

Jay Brogden, 21, vanished in Cannonvale on April 21, 2007. Two men are charged with murder over his disappearance.

As part of the homicide investigation detectives dug up an Airlie Beach property and placed a huge billboard showcasing the $250,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for Mr Brogden’s disappearance.

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

On Wednesday Mr Parnell formally entered his plea of “not guilty” from Mackay Supreme Court dock after he was flown to the city for the mention.

As part of the Jay Brogden investigation police dug up a Mazlin St property in Airlie Beach. Photo: Georgia Simpson

Barrister Scott Lynch, acting for Mr Butler who has not yet entered a plea to the charge of murder, has applied to sever the matters – that application will be heard on Friday.

It is anticipated Mr Butler will be arraigned and enter his formal plea on Friday.

During the mention Mr Lynch said he had raised with Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crane if there was a separate trial could Mr Butler’s “be listed behind Mr Parnell in the event that Mr Parnell’s doesn’t proceed”.

The 21 year old’s body has never been found.

Justice David North said on his reading of the application to sever the matters, it seemed Mr Parnell’s trial was expected to be shorter than Mr Butler’s, to which lawyers for both men agreed.

“So there would be some utility in Mr Parnell’s trial being listed first, in that hypothetical situation,” Justice North said.

Mr Crane said he was still considering a response to the application to sever, but if there were separate trials Mr Parnell’s would be listed first.

“His trial is likely to be concluded within two weeks,” Mr Crane said, adding there was two weeks set aside from May 3.

Matters will be rementioned on Friday at the application to sever the cases.