Man accused of murder of Jake Opacic threatened to kill him, police say
Details of the moments leading up to a fatal motorbike crash on the Gold Coast on Friday have been revealed, with police alleging in court documents that a man now charged with Jake Opacic’s murder threatened to kill him during a roadside confrontation.
Police & Courts
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One of two men accused of murdering the brother of NRL star Tom Opacic in a bizarre prison love triangle yelled ‘I’m going to kill him … he stole my girlfriend, he rubbed it in my face’, police allege in court documents.
Jake Opacic, 28, died in a motorcycle crash near Numinbah Correctional Centre in the Gold Coast hinterland last Friday.
Benjamin Charles Johnson, 29, and Steven Dale Latter, 28, faced Southport Magistrates Court on Monday charged with his murder after allegedly running him off the road.
Police alleged in court documents that all three men were at the jail for the release of Opacic’s partner Rheeanon Rowe, who was Johnson’s ex-girlfriend.
Documents state that she was collected by her family who left the prison in a vehicle with Opacic on his motorbike.
Rowe’s family then encountered Johnson and Latter whose car appeared to have broken down and an argument allegedly erupted over her choosing to stay with Opacic that night.
Opacic then allegedly returned to the scene and began revving his motorcycle and beckoning Johnson to approach him, the court documents state.
“Johnson has commenced walking towards Opacic whilst yelling abuse,” police allege in the documents.
“Rowe has attempted to physically stop Johnson from walking towards Opacic, during which time Johnson has said words to the effect of ‘I’m going to kill him, I’m gonna kill him. I hate you Rheeannon. I’m gonna run him off his bike … Jake stole my girlfriend, he rubbed it in my face, I’ll f … g kill him.”
Opacic then allegedly took off on his bike with Johnson and Latter in pursuit in their black Toyota Camry.
Rowe and her family followed only to then see the Camry coming towards them, flashing its lights.
Johnson allegedly told them: “He’s (Opacic) come off his bike, we didn’t do anything.”
Police allege in the documents that one witness ‘observed Johnson smiling as he said this’.
Rowe and her family later found Opacic dead next to his heavily damaged motorcycle, police state in the documents.
Police allege Johnson and Latter left the scene but a black Toyota Camry part was found near the damaged motorcycle.
The Camry was found at Laidley last Saturday with ‘extensive damage to the front left bumper’, police allege.
Johnson surrendered to Laidley police early on Saturday morning while Latter was arrested later that day at Alexandra Headland.
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