Alleged killer stuffed body in bin: ‘I’m taking out the trash’
A Logan man allegedly tried to stuff the body of a grandfather he had stomped to death in a wheelie bin. When asked what he was doing, he made a victory sign and said: “I’m taking out the trash.’’
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man allegedly tried to repeatedly stuff the body of a Logan grandfather into a wheelie bin but when it kept falling out told a horrified witness: “See no evil, speak no evil.’’
Paul John Conoley, 41, allegedly also said he was “putting out the trash’’ when asked what he was doing.
Conoley was today committed for trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court for the murder of Steven John Church, 50, who was walking to the home of one of his eight grandchildren on April 26 last year.
Beenleigh Magistrates Court today heard that Conoley repeatedly kicked the grandfather, a stranger, in the head and body and stood on his head and neck.
Prosecutor Sgt Stephen Cochrane told the court Conoley then repeatedly tried to stuff the victim’s body into a wheelie bin before terrified passers-by called police.
Witness Kahlam Wilson gave evidence today that he was driving home with a friend early that morning when he saw a man carrying what he thought was a mannequin across the middle of Defiance St, Woodridge, towards some wheelie bins.
He said the man, who police will allege was Conoley, appeared to be “in a psychotic mood’’ and appeared to be talking to himself.
“I was 100m away at the time but I could hear him clear as day,’’ Mr Wilson told the court.
“He said ‘I have to put him in the bin’.
“Then he said ‘No we can’t.’ It sounded like he was talking to himself.’’
Mr Wilson said he saw Conoley kick Mr Church at least 10 times over a period of five to 10 minutes before police arrived.
Mr Wilson saw him trying to put Mr Church into the bin.
“He had the bin facing down and was trying to put him in, but he (Mr Church’s body) kept falling over and the bin fell over once,’’ he said.
He said once he realised something was wrong and Mr Church was not a mannequin, he slowly drove as near as he dared, level to Conoley, who called out: “See no evil, hear no evil.’’
Confusion as brothers listed for sentence in Beenleigh on the same day
Man jailed after high-speed stolen Porsche chase on Logan Mwy
Garbage collector Justin Scott told the court he noticed the two men about 4.50am, when he still had his headlights on.
“He (Conoley) looked to me, put his hoodie on and turned his back to me,’’ Mr Scott said.
“He put a finger up in the air. I would describe it as like he had scored a goal in soccer.’’
Another witness, newspaper deliverer Alapati Tugga, said he and his wife were driving past when they also saw what looked like a man dragging a mannequin.
When Mr Tugga realised something was wrong his wife drove closer and Mr Tugga called out from the car passenger seat: “Hey, is everything OK?’’
“He (Conoley) said he was taking the trash out.’’
The couple drove off but returned soon after to check the scene.
Conoley had picked up Mr Church’s body again but dropped it when he saw the couple and began walking towards them, so they drove off and called police.
Ambulance officer Solomon Lee-Wen also gave evidence in Beenleigh Magistrates Court today.
He told Conoley’s Legal Aid barrister, Lars Falcongreen, that when he arrived he saw Conoley standing on Mr Church’s throat and clavicle
“He was waving frantically. He was gesturing down at the body and he had a grin on his face,’’ Mr Lee-Wen said.
“He had his hands in the air and was gesturing to the body — he seemed very happy with himself.’’
Conoley, who appeared via videolink from jail, did not look up during the committal hearing and played nervously with his hands the entire time.
He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.
Magistrate Louise Shephard committed him for trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court to a date to be fixed.
She also committed Conoley for trial in the Beenleigh District Court for allegedly spitting on a police officer at the scene.
Conoley did not enter a plea or apply for bail on that matter.