Scott ‘Chen’ Czarnecki death: Trial begins for teen charged with murder

A Kyogle man who allegedly murdered a 64-year-old former religious sect leader will plead not guilty to all charges. Here’s what we know so far:

A trial has begun over the alleged murder of a former controversial sect leader after his body was found in a burnt-out house in Northern NSW.

A man, who cannot be named as he was aged 17 at the time of the alleged offence, has been charged with the murder of Scott ‘Chen’ Czarnecki between August 14 and 17 2020 at Smiths Creek, near Kyogle.

The accused, now aged 20, has pleaded not guilty to murder and to a second charge of destroying property by fire.

Mr Czarnecki was a former leader of the Australia arm of the Twelve Tribes which was known for its harsh disciplining of young children.

Before his death, he had left the controversial religious group which he had been a part of for three decades.

Police will allege Scott ‘Chen’ Czarnecki, 64, died in a deliberately lit home fire on August 16, 2020. Picture: Channel 9/ A Current Affair

In his opening address Coffs Harbour Supreme Court, crown prosecutor Brendan Campbell said it wasn’t disputed the teenager had caused Mr Czarnecki’s death or burnt down the house and adjacent water pump.

Mr Campbell said, however, the key dispute would centre on whether the accused suffered from schizophrenic delusions that Mr Czarnecki sexually abused him and that the mental health impairment prevented him from knowing the deadly act was “morally wrong”.

Defence barrister Jason Watts, representing the teenager, said he would submit the teen’s use of cannabis had contributed to the first onset of a psychotic episode.

Mr Campbell said the prosecution would allege emergency services were called to the rural property on the evening of August 16 Mr Czarnecki’s 64-year-old charred remains were later found inside the home’s kitchen.

Mr Czarnecki allegedly had several penetrating wounds and two “chop-type” wounds, consistent with a machete attack, a later autopsy revealed.

The court also heard the accused was allegedly found in Evans Head on August 19 “hiding out” and gave police a false name and declined to answer questions.

The prosecutor said the trial would hear evidence that the teen was found with a 15cm fishing knife which had blood on the blade which matched Mr Czarnecki’s DNA.

Lead investigator Inspector Aaron Greenwood was called by the prosecution to give evidence and confirmed evidence from Mr Czarnecki’s partner that she had left their home at midday on August 15.

Insp. Greenwood told the court she described the teenager as not wanting to be a “part of society”.

She described the accused’s temperament as generally having a “lack of remorse” and “very controlled with his emotion, nearly to the point of being unemotional”, the court heard.

The lead detective told the court the teenager’s mother had said on the day of the alleged murder the accused was “happier than ever really”, and that his sister described him as “more friendly than normal”.

Insp. Greenwood gave evidence that former Twelve Tribes member and Mr Czarnecki’s friend Julian Moore had confirmed the accused had “struggled to fit into mainstream schooling”.

The court heard police were unsuccessful in investigating claims the teen was sexually abused by Mr Czarnecki.

In cross examination, Mr Watts asked Insp. Greenwood whether or not there were statements confirming the teen had told his family and friends he would get together a group of “trusted adults” formerly from the Twelve Tribes to tell them about the alleged sexual abuse.

Insp Greenwood confirmed Mr Moore, and the teen’s mother and sister’s statement all confirmed a discussion of that kind took place.

Forensic psychiatrist Kerri Eagle also took to the stand, contending the sexual abuse allegation was “characteristic of a delusional memory”.

She said the accused had told her he had no memory of the alleged abuse until he was sitting at his computer when the memory just turned up without an evident trigger.

She said this was a “well described and well understood” first rank symptom of a psychotic illness.

Ms Eagle added it was “unheard of” that cannabis intoxication could cause a psychotic episode without an underlying illness present.

Mr Campbell suggested this case was “different” to other examples of delusion given the accused’s actions to later evade arrest, implying moral wrongfulness.

Ms Eagle responded the level of delusion could fluctuate but that the accused “still believes he was morally right in what he did”.

The judge-alone trial continues before Justice Richard Cavanagh.