Hit-and-run car, which killed Jim Murphy, illegally sold for meth, court told

There has been a stunning end to an inquest to “solve the mystery” about who killed a Rockhampton man in a hit-and-run incident outside a pub in 2019. But his killer will walk free.

Hit and run victim Jim Murphy, 76.

There has been a stunning end to an inquest to “solve the mystery” about who killed adored Rockhampton man James “Jimmy” Sidney Murphy in a hit-and-run crash outside the Brunswick Hotel in 2019.

Tony Leonard Rice, who had his charge of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions in January 2023, made a bombshell admission while giving evidence on day two of the inquest on March 21.

After being granted immunity by Coroner David O’Connell at the Yeppoon courthouse this week, Mr Rice admitted to driving a purple Ford on Archer St about 8.20pm on August 17. He said there was an accident and admitted to driving without headlights on.

CCTV footage collected by police showed one vehicle travelling down Archer St towards West St with its headlights on, and another without headlights travelling in the opposite direction.

Coroner O’Connell surmised to the court that Jimmy had seen the first vehicle and suffered “night blindness” due to looking at the first vehicle’s lights, and therefore didn’t see the purple Ford if he had looked in that direction before moving to cross the road.

“I’m sorry,” Mr Rice told the inquest when asked what he wanted to say to Jimmy’s family.

“I know sorry doesn’t bring him back.”

Jimmy’s longtime friend Kelvin said he was grateful there was a result after years of wondering what happened to his friend of almost five decades, and why it happened.

“I’m deeply disappointed there can’t be any further prosecution,” he said.

“I’d like to thank all the police work courts work Mr Aberdeen and the coroner for his professionalism and eventually getting an answer.

“I was absolutely gutted that’s he got total immunity for this.”

Car in fatal hit-and-run illegally sold for meth, court told

The owner of the vehicle which struck a Rockhampton man outside a pub claims he lent the vehicle to a woman days earlier and she wouldn’t return it.

This is what Coroner David O’Connell has heard at the inquest at Yeppoon courthouse into the death of James “Jim” Sidney Murphy, 79, who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run crash outside the Brunswick Hotel in Archer Street, Rockhampton, about 8.20pm on August 17, 2019.

Mr Murphy died the following day in Rockhampton Hospital.

James Sidney Murphy, 79, was fatally injured in a hit-and-run crash outside the Brunswick Hotel in Archer Street, Rockhampton, about 8.20pm on August 17, 2019.

Counsel assisting the coroner, John Aberdeen, told the inquest on March 20, 2023, the vehicle identified – a purple Ford Falcon – had been registered to Clayton Gooda who gave evidence.

He said he had left the car at a friend’s place on August 14 and told the friend in Eddington Street he would be back for it later that day or the next.

However, Mr Gooda said, he became concerned about his car as he texted the friend to return the car while another person was messaging him that the car had been sold by that friend to Tony Rice via Facebook.

He said the friend admitted they sold it to Mr Rice for “a g and a half of meth” (1.5g of methamphetamines).

He said the friend he was staying with on August 18 showed him a news article with a photograph of a purple vehicle in it which he recognised as his 2005 Ford XR6.

Mr Gooda said he was able to identify it as his car due chrome rims he had put on it, fine scratches, little dents and very small rust spots around the skirting.

Mr Aberdeen said the purple vehicle had been captured on CCTV at a service station on Albert Street shortly after 10am on August 17, identifying Tony Leonard Rice as the driver.

Tony Leonard Rice outside Yeppoon courthouse for the Jim Murphy inquest, March 20, 2023.

He said Mr Rice told police on September 6, 2019, the vehicle was a “communal car”, driven by many people, and he had been asked to hand it over to a man outside Dean Street IGA at lunchtime on August 17.

Mr Aberdeen told the inquest neither Mr Rice, nor the purple vehicle, were spotted on hours of CCTV from the IGA on that day.

He said Mr Rice also told police his mate Jason Beattie and Mr Beattie’s partner Leanne Hartigan picked him up at 5.30pm and took him to their place in Yeppoon.

Ms Hartigan drove him back to Rockhampton about 9pm so he could collect clothing to stay the next two nights at Yeppoon.

However, Senior Constable Joseph Cook told the inquest mobile phone tower records showed Mr Rice’s phone being pinged by two cell towers in Rockhampton – one at the hospital and one in the CBD – about the time of the crash.

He said Mr Rice called Mr Beattie at 8.18pm and the call lasted four minutes and 12 seconds.

Senior Constable Cook said Mr Rice called Mr Beattie again at 8.26pm with the call lasting three minutes and 10 seconds.

Ms Hartigan’s phone was pinged by an Emu Park tower and Mr Beattie’s by a Yeppoon tower.

Mr Aberdeen said he would call six to seven witnesses on Monday including Mr Rice after lunch.

In July 2021 Mr Rice was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Murphy, however that charge was recently dismissed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. No other charges have been laid in relation to Mr Murphy’s death.

Mr Beattie is expected to give evidence on Tuesday.