Murder-accused told brother he ‘accidentally’ shot Ipswich dad

A man accused of murdering an Ipswich dad told his brother the father was dead and he thought he’d ‘accidentally shot him’, a court has heard.

Markiss Moffatt-Cleary outside the Brisbane Supreme Court. Picture: Tertius Pickard

A man accused of murdering an Ipswich father told his brother he thought he’d accidentally shot the man, a court has heard.

Larkin Dwayne Moffatt has pleaded not guilty to murdering Chris Anderson outside the father’s home following a confrontation over a purported drug-related debt owed by the alleged victim’s then partner Felicity Torrens.

The trial in Brisbane’s Supreme Court has heard Ms Torrens indirectly supplied some methamphetamine to Shaun Jason Birt who was unhappy with the amount and wanted compensation.

Christopher Anderson.

Moffatt, his brother Markiss Graham Moffatt-Cleary, Aidan Eden Pascoe and Birt -who were all friends – travelled to Mr Anderson’s home at Gailes on July 10 2021 to speak to Ms Torrens and recover “what was owed”.

The men ended up inside the home uninvited and tensions flared with Pascoe discharging a .410 shotgun into the wall of the lounge room with the blast penetrating the other side into Mr Anderson’s young son’s bedroom, the court heard.

An outraged Mr Anderson chased them out of his home with a shovel which he used to hit the men and their Holden Commodore parked outside, the court heard.

Felicity Torrens outside court. Photo: Steve Pohlner

The crown allege that Moffatt shot Mr Anderson from the front passenger seat with a .22 firearm at this time and the bullet penetrated his heart.

The defendant’s brother Moffatt-Cleary told the jury on Wednesday that he had run past the car.

“I just looked back and seen him hitting them … and then I heard a bang,” he said.

Later that night Moffatt-Cleary said he was at his sister’s house when his brother the defendant showed up.

“He rocked up and shown me a news article and told me that Anderson was dead,” Moffatt-Cleary said.

“He said ‘I think I accidentally shot him’.

“He was in shock … I could just see it in his face, I’ve never seen my brother like that before.”

The trial continues Thursday before Justice Lincoln Crowley.

The family of Christopher Anderson. Picture: Nicola McNamara