Peter Murphy seeks bail over alleged aid and abet role in Geoffrey McLean wheelie bin murder

An Adelaide court has heard shocking details of alleged recorded conversations between twin brothers charged over the decapitation, storage and disposal of Geoffrey McLean.

The twin brother of a man accused of murdering missing northern suburbs man Geoffrey McLean – whose torso was found in a wheelie bin – was caught saying the dead man’s body was “living out in my backyard for two weeks”, a court has been told.

Peter James Murphy, 51, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday seeking release on home detention bail after being charged with aiding and abetting the murder of Mr McLean.

Peter Murphy is the twin brother of murder-accused Mark John Murphy. Mark Murphy’s partner, Sherree Glastonbury, who is also Mr McLean’s former partner, is also charged with Mr McLean’s murder.

Peter James Murphy has been charged with assisting an offender. Picture: Facebook

Sheree Glastonbury has been charged with murdering Geoffrey McLean. Picture: Supplied

Mark John Murphy, the man accused of murdering Geoffrey McLean. Pics: 9News

Opposing bail, sergeant Trent Matijevic, prosecuting, told the court police were opposed to bail due to the serious nature of the charge which related to the “transport, storage and disposal” of Mr McLean’s remains after his murder on August 18 last year.

He said police had amassed a “large amount of telephone intercepts”, during which the brothers discussed Mr McLean.

“I don’t even know the c---. I know him now, I know him very well and truly now, f---king living out in my backyard for two weeks,” the court heard Peter Murphy said during a call to his brother.

He said the brothers had also discussed “manufacturing alibis to distance themselves from police attention”, suggesting they would need to get someone else “involved in this f---king elaborate lie”.

Sergeant Matijevic told the court police believed parts of Mr McLean’s body were stored at the home the twins shared at Brahma Lodge between August 18 and September 4 last year. Peter Murphy’s partner Lynette Sexton, who is also charged with aiding and abetting the murder, also lives at that property.

“After that point in time it seems that some body parts have been moved to another location,” Sergeant Matijevic said.

Mr McLean’s torso was found in a wheelie bin on a vacant block at Salisbury South on October 24 last year. Sergeant Matijevic said the rest of Mr McLean’s body is yet to be found.

Parts of Andrews Farm man Geoffrey McLean’s body are yet to be found. Pictures: Facebook

“Police suspect that the co-accused Mark Murphy and Ms Glastonbury have dismembered the body of the victim at Andrews Farm and transported the body to their home address at Brahma Lodge,” Sergeant Matijevic said.

He said a truck was hired to move the wheelie bin, which had been stolen from neighbours, to the vacant lot.

The court heard police had compiled evidence including witness statements, CCTV, forensic evidence, phone call charge records and tower location information and banking records.

Sergeant Matijevic said CCTV had identified a “distinctive” Holden Statesman with black alloy wheels belonging to Ms Sexton at one of the crime scenes.

He said in an another intercepted phone call Peter Murphy is heard saying “I don’t know what footage they’ve got but if it’s me and it’s out there we’re f---ked”.

He said Ms Sexton had made admissions about a body having been kept in a wheelie bin at the home but was unaware whose body it was during a police interview.

“She admits to knowledge of the body, how it was transported and where it was taken. She told police that she wanted to tell police about this but she did not want to get the co-accused’s brother, Mark Murphy, in trouble,” Sergeant Matijevic said.

He said police were also opposed to bail for fear Peter Murphy may interfere with their investigation, including tampering with any crime scenes and witnesses – some of which are their family members.

“We are still looking for the outstanding body parts,” he said.

“Despite significant media attention and appeals from police, Peter Murphy failed to provide police with any assistance or information.”

Hugh Woods, for Peter Murphy, told the court his client had unblemished criminal record and was told he was a suspect in the crime on February 28 – almost three weeks before his arrest on March 20.

“For a period of 20 days there is no doubt this man knew he was a suspect, he was fingerprinted, he was DNA’d and there was no suggestion during that period he has tried to abscond or interfere with the evidence,” he said.

He said a “significant delay” was likely before the matter reached trial.

He asked the court to bail Peter Murphy to live with another brother in Salisbury North, while his mother and daughter could act as guarantors and post a $5000 cash surety with the court.

Magistrate Brian Nitschke refused bail due to the risk of interference with the ongoing investigation, given the allegations included that the brothers had discussed concocting an alibi.

Mark Murphy and Ms Glastonbury are also charged with the attempted murder of Mr McLean in April 2022.

Each of the four people charged in relation to Mr McLean’s murder are next expected to appear in court in June.

Originally published as Peter Murphy seeks bail over alleged aid and abet role in Geoffrey McLean wheelie bin murder