Woodchipper murder claim: Accused couple slept in victim’s bed

The daughter of a woman charged with the woodchipper murder of her ex-partner has told a court of the days after his death.

Hans Hurzelmeier leaves Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday. Picture: John Gass/NCA NewsWire

New details have emerged of an alleged love quadrangle involving a woman and three men after one of her lovers was found dead inside a woodchipper.

The daughter of murder accused Sharon Graham has told a jury that her mother and co-accused Gregory Roser slept together in their alleged victim’s bed in the days following his gruesome death.

Bruce Saunders’ remains were found inside a woodchipper on November 12, 2017

Twelve witnesses including neighbours, family and close friends gave evidence at the murder trial on Friday.

Graham and Roser have both been charged with Mr Saunders’ murder, with a third man, Peter Koenig, having already pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact.

It is alleged Saunders, Roser and Koenig were all at some point romantically involved with Graham prior to Mr Saunders’ death, and that Graham had ordered the hit on Mr Saunders while the three men were tree felling together at a Nambour property.

Victim Bruce Saunders

Graham’s daughter Rebecca told the court that on the night of Mr Saunders’ death she and her then partner collected Graham from the hospital and took her to Mr Saunders’ house where they all stayed the night. When asked which room Graham slept in while at the house, Rebecca said: “The master (Saunders’) bedroom … that same night.”

It is alleged both Roser and Koenig arrived at the house some 24 to 48 hours following Saunders’ death.

“Mr Roser came to the house a couple of days after, I think a day or two after,” Rebecca said. “(He slept) in that same bedroom.”

The Crown has alleged Graham had a financial motive to murder Saunders, with his will updated shortly before his death.

The court heard Graham produced a copy of Mr Saunders’ will the morning after his death, informing Rebecca that: “Bruce left everything to her and made her the executive of the will.”

Two of the accused, Gregory Roser and Sharon Graham

“I remember that I was surprised that nothing had been left to Blake, Bruce’s son,” Rebecca told the court.

“My mum said that Bruce felt that Blake had already inherited enough from the passing of his mother and didn’t need any more.

“The relationship had been changed from partner to friend (in the will).”

Rebecca’s ex-partner Hans Hurzelmeier also told the court Graham had bought him lavish gifts for Christmas in the weeks after Saunders’ death and jokingly offered to buy them a house to help fix a rift in their relationship.

“Around Christmas time she bought a new bar, because she wanted a new bar at home, and the gifts for Christmas were always pretty pricey,” he said.

“I remember we (Rebecca) were having (relationship) issues and her mum approached me and said can’t you fix this, how about you try and get her pregnant and I’ll buy youse a house, I have enough money to do that for you.”

Both Graham and Roser maintain that Saunders’ death was an accident.

The trial continues.