Sensational end to Wilsonton Nine murder hearing

IN SENSATIONAL developments at the conclusion of the Wilsonton Nine committal hearing, six of the nine have had their murder charge downgraded.

Debbie Combarngo died from injuries sustained in a McGregor St flat on May 6, 2018.

IN A sensational conclusion to the "Wilsonton Nine" murder committal hearing, the Crown has dropped the charge of murder against six of the nine accused.

The nine - Joshua James Lingwoodock, 33, Rhianna Jade Fing, 29, Ty Peter Fing, 23, Ashley Aaron Fing, 25, Christine Maree Hall, 34, Jana Leigh Hall, 28, Rhonda Ann Hall, 29, Lynn Fay Jean Anderson, 26, and Shiralee Fernando, 30 - were each charged with murder arising from the death of Debbie Combarngo in a McGregor St unit on Sunday, May 6, 2018.

The nine were also charged with entering the dwelling with intent andthe assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company of Debbie's daughter Claudia Combarngo, 21, and her partner Tristan Hooper, 24, who were also at the unit at the time of the incident.

However, at today's conclusion of their committal hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court, the Crown reduced the charge of murder to manslaughter for Ty Fing, Christine Hall, Ashleigh Fing, Jana Hall, Josh Lingwoodock and Lynn Anderson.

Each of those six then pleaded guilty to the new charge of manslaughter as well as to the two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and entering the dwelling with intent in company while armed (burglary).

Magistrate Kay Ryan committed each of the six to the Supreme Court at Toowoomba for sentence.

It is envisaged they will be sentenced in the Toowoomba sittings of the Supreme Court in December.

Rhianna Fing, Shiralee Fernando and Rhonda Hall were each committed to trial on the charge of murder, entering a dwelling with intent and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm in the Supreme Court at Toowoomba.

The trio have not as yet been required to enter any pleas to their respective charges.

A trial on the murder charge is not expected to be heard this year.

The committal hearing earlier heard that it was alleged some of the nine had blamed Debbie Combarngo for the death of Rhonda Hall's brother Michael Hall who had died weeks earlier.

The hearing heard the nine had arrived in a maxi taxi at the McGregor St unit in the early afternoon of Sunday, May 6, 2018, and the Crown case was that some were armed with golf clubs, a hammer, a knife and a metal pole.

The pathologist who did the post mortem examination of Ms Combarngo told the court it was her opinion, of the weapons given to her, a metal pole was most likely the weapon which was plunged into Ms Combarngo's chest.

Rhianna Fing and Jana Hall were remanded on bail with the other seven accused remanded in custody awaiting their respective Supreme Court appearances.

Originally published as Sensational end to Wilsonton Nine murder hearing