Steven Dean Michael Walker-Ely committed to supreme court on murder charge
Friends of a New Zealand tradie found dead beside the Bruce Hwy have given evidence as his heartbroken family travels to North Queensland for the alleged killer’s hearing.
Police & Courts
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Caravan park residents described hearing screams and a string of swear words the night Birdsall Fa’apepele died.
The man charged with his murder, Steven Dean Michael Walker-Ely, faced a committal hearing on Wednesday in Mackay Magistrates Court where nine people were cross-examined and the grieving New Zealander’s family filled the public gallery.
Mr Fa’apepele’s body was found in a vacant lot off the Bruce Highway about 3am on December 14, 2021, about 700m from the Paget caravan park off Farrellys and Broadsoand Rds.
Mr Walker-Ely had also been living at the park where it is alleged he murdered the 25 year old by stabbing him in the neck, face and abdomen.
Residents of The Park were called including Julie Williamson, who said she was woken by two people running and heard “the rustling of a fence when someone jumped over it”.
She told the court she heard the person being chased yell “you fa---t”.
David Robinson, who lived near Mr Walker-Ely, heard “one deep thump” from the direction of the amenities about 2am but did not know what had caused it.
Yan Riskov said he woke up to “hearing screaming” about 3am, while Rhonda Riches said she had been watching television between 2.30-3am and heard “what sounded like a scary yell” from the direction of the toilet block.
The court heard Shona Conlon, whose home at the time backed onto the Bruce Highway opposite The Park, heard voices outside the night Mr Fa’apepele died.
She heard a younger man’s voice say “you need f--- up, I’m going to get you one day”, then she heard the older man say “you should have listened to me”.
Two of Mr Fa’apepele’s friends were also questioned about a series of text messages sent before their workmate was found dead and the statements they gave to police afterwards.
The court heard Mr Fa’apepele texted his mate Caleb Hamiora, who also lived at The Park, the evening before he died asking to stay because he was having relationship difficulties.
Brisbane silk Saul Holt, for Mr Walker-Ely, asked Mr Hamiora if he and Mr Fa’apepele took drugs together, to which he replied “no, we didn’t”.
The court heard the pair had been at a going away celebration for Dan Moevao at Harrup Park Country Club the night before and all three worked together for at least six months up to Mr Fa’apepele’s death.
“Did it concern you that Birdsall (Fa’apepele) was selling bags of drugs and was on drugs?” Mr Holt asked, to which Mr Hamiora replied: “I don’t know any of this.”
Mr Holt then read text messages the pair had sent each other in September 2021.
“He said ‘cause I sell bags?’ … to which you replied ‘nah cause you always on them as well’,” Mr Holt read out.
“What was that about?”
Mr Hamiora said it was “probably just us joking around”.
Mr Holt pushed further asking “bags of what?”, and Mr Hamiora said “exactly” circling around the question before saying it was a joke.
Asked about more text messages and if they were related to a falling-out between the two, Mr Hamiora also dismissed them as a joke.
“It’s just the humour we had,” he said.
The court heard Mr Moevao, who gave evidence via videolink, had initially told police he did not expect to see Mr Fa’apepele at work the day after his going away because he had been drinking the night before.
When asked to clarify this Mr Moevao said his comments “might have been taken out of context”
Mr Holt questioned Mr Moevao about Mr Fa’apepele’s drinking habits asking if he had been “drinking too much”, to which he said he spoke to him “mate to mate just to see how things are”.
He asked about a comment that “Bird would go to Caleb’s sometimes and have a few drinks because if he would ask me I would give him sh**”.
“What does that mean?” Mr Holt asked.
“Ask you what?”
Mr Moevao initially replied “footy … work … everyday life things” before saying, “I’m not quite sure what I meant there”.
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan had to direct both Mr Hamiora and Mr Moevao to answer questions clearly.
Two drivers also gave evidence on seeing a darker-skinned male “fully naked” crossing the road in front of them about 2.20am on December 14, 2021.
Andrew Quakawoot agreed he told police the man had been hunched over like he was “winded or maybe … hit in the stomach”.
Leon Macauliffe told the court he had to swerve “to avoid hitting him”, adding it looked like a slow job like the man was puffed.
The court heard they saw a shirtless white male go in the same direction not long after.
Mr Quakawoot said he caught a glimpse of the man’s face and he looked angry, while Mr Macauliffe said he looked serious.
Prosecutor Sheena Gravino tendered 76 witness statements.
The court heard DNA evidence in the case had to be retested as consequence of the inquiry into the state lab services.
Mr Walker-Ely has been on supreme court bail since March 2022 on the condition that a $300,000 surety was paid, he wore a tracker and lived in New South Wales.
Magistrate Hartigan committed his case to the Mackay Supreme Court on a date to be set.
The courtroom gallery had been packed with supporters of Mr Fa’apepele including his mother and the parents of his partner.
Explaining the family had travelled from New Zealand to be at the committal hearing, the father of Mr Fa’apepele’s partner said being in the courtroom was “hard”.
“I’m shaking,” he said.
“We were hoping we’d get some more answers but it’s just another day … down the track we’ll hear something else.”
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