‘Love you’: Jail love triangle murder accused Benjamin Charles Johnson blows kisses in court

The man charged with the murder of NRL star Tom Opacic’s brother in an alleged jail love triangle has told his mum ‘I love you’ from the court dock.

Benjamin Charles Johnson. Photo: Supplied

A man charged with the murder of NRL star Tom Opacic’s brother over what police allege was a bizarre prison love triangle has blown kisses to his crying mum in court.

Benjamin Charles Johnson, 29, was one of two men charged with murdering Jake Opacic near Numinbah Correctional Centre last Friday.

Mr Opacic, 28, died in a motorcycle crash near the prison in the Gold Coast hinterland on Friday after an alleged verbal stoush with two men outside the jail.

He had gone to the prison farm for the release of his ex-girlfriend only to come face-to-face with her current partner, police will allege.

NRL player Tom Opacic’s brother Jake was killed in a motorbike crash on Friday.

Johnson, 29, of Narangba, surrendered to Laidley police about 2am on Saturday and was initially charged with dangerous driving, leaving the scene of an accident and disqualified driving.

On Sunday, police charged him and Steven Dale Latter, 28, of Mitchelton, with murder.

Murder accused Benjamin Charles Johnson.

Defendants charged with murder cannot apply for bail in the magistrates court and Johnson was remanded in custody until his case is mentioned again on August 3.

He blew a kiss and said ‘I love you mum’ to his mother in the public gallery before being led back to the cells.

Jake Opacic, 28, died in a motorcycle crash near the Numinbah Correctional Centre just after 10am on Friday.

Latter’s case was also adjourned until August 3.

Speaking outside court, his lawyer Campbell MacCallum said police alleged that Latter was the driver of a vehicle that deliberately struck Mr Opacic “but the facts certainly don’t completely support that”.

Mr MacCallum said there were no other witnesses to the alleged collision other than Latter and Johnson.

“The instructions that I’ve received from my client is that the collision was an accident and it’s very unfortunate that someone has passed away,” he said.

“The police of course are alleging that it wasn’t an accident and there’s some facts that they haven’t released yet which will probably determine whether or not their case is strong enough to support such an allegation.”

Mr MacCallum said while it was a ‘strong Crown case’, his client intended to apply for bail in the Supreme Court.

“He’s quite shocked and upset but apart from that, he’s very quiet,” he said.

“He accepts that he can’t apply for bail at this (magistrates court) level. He needs to go to the Supreme Court to make such an application.”