Convicted murderer Anthony James O’Keefe has fraud charge mentioned in court
A man found guilty of murdering a Townsville grandmother in a drug-fuelled rampage in 2016 has appeared in a Rockhampton court charged with fraud. Here’s what happened.
Police & Courts
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A man found guilty of murdering a Townsville grandmother in a drug-fuelled rampage in 2016 has appeared in a Rockhampton court charged with fraud.
Anthony James O’Keefe, 38, appeared in custody in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 21 via video link.
Mr O’Keefe is charged with one count of fraud – dishonestly gain benefit/advantage.
Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said the charge related to allegedly gaining telephone calls for another person, which is understood to have occurred while Mr O’Keefe was in custody.
When asked by Ms Beckinsale what he was doing with the charge, Mr O’Keefe said this was the first he had heard of it.
“I haven’t got a solicitor,” he said.
“I got a court notice the other day.
“This is the first I have actually heard of it.
“I know what you are talking about, the phone calls and stuff. I know about it.”
Mr O’Keefe said he intended to plead guilty to the charge.
“It’s a no-brainer,” he said.
“At the time my mate said, ‘I have no space on my phone’, and I said, ‘yeah whack it on mine’,” he said.
“I find out nine months later there is a DVO in place.”
Mr O’Keefe told Ms Beckinsale he had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
He was sentenced to life in prison in August 2021 after he was found guilty in the Townsville Supreme Court for the murder of Elizabeth Kippin, 81, who was killed in her Wulguru home on July 26, 2016.
He was also found guilty of trying to kill two others including his friend Brittny Speechly-Faulks who he stabbed multiple times.
Mr O’Keefe further told Ms Beckinsale he had a lawyer in Townsville who was appealing his murder conviction but didn’t know if he would represent him for this matter.
Ms Beckinsale told Mr O’Keefe to talk to his lawyer or Legal Aid for advice and adjourned his matter to August 11.
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