Murder accused denies he wanted mate dead to continue affair

ACCUSED murderer Anthony Charles Oliver has denied he wanted his mate out of the way so he could continue his affair with the woman he loved.

SCN120211DEADMAN Caption: Missing Sandgate man Norman Desmond Cheney.whose remains were found in a barrel near Caboolture.

ACCUSED murderer Anthony Charles Oliver has denied he wanted his mate out of the way so he could continue his affair with the woman he loved.

He had been trying to keep his affair with Trichelle Cheney secret from her husband Norman Desmond Cheney (pictured), 41, for three years.

Mr Oliver, who was living at Mount Coolum when police first questioned him about a missing person, has testified he finally admitted the affair to Mr Cheney at Somerset Dam on December 20, 2010.

He has alleged Mr Cheney bashed and choked him so badly that he passed out and woke to find petrol being poured on him.

Mr Oliver told Brisbane Supreme Court Mr Cheney was using a lighter to ignite him and the car they were sitting in when he saw a gun under his mate's thigh, which he used to kill him.

Crown prosecutor Todd Fuller asked Mr Oliver why he did not call police immediately if he had killed Mr Cheney in self-defence.

Mr Fuller suggested police would have found the car splashed with petrol, a container with petrol in it, the gun and other items to back up his story.

Mr Oliver said he was in shock and fearful of what Mr Cheney's family and bikie mates would do to him.

"Mr Oliver, you wanted Norm Cheney out of your life, didn't you," Mr Fuller said.

Mr Oliver denied the allegation, saying he hoped "there might be a time when we could be open about our relationship".

Mr Cheney's body was concreted into a 44-gallon barrel and dumped in the Caboolture River.

Closing arguments are expected today.