Coffs Harbour Local Court hears shocking details of injuries inflicted on murdered young surfer Kye Schaefer
A young NSW surfer tragically murdered in a beach car park suffered “an extremely violent attack”. Horrendous details have been aired in court emphasising the extent of the brutality. WARNING: GRAPHIC
Regional News
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A young surfer tragically murdered in a beach car park suffered “an extremely violent attack” in which he was struck over the head, stabbed six times and had his throat repeatedly slashed.
Kye Schaefer’s dying declaration was that “he was struck over the head”, police state.
Rough sleeper Matthew Willacy, 36, of no fixed address has been accused of murdering the 22-year old surfer near Park Beach, Coffs Harbour about 6.40am on May 2.
He did not enter a plea to the charge when he faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Thursday.
A police affidavit read in part described a tree branch found next to Mr Schaefer, which police allege showed traces of Willacy’s DNA.
Willacy appeared over videlink from Clarence Correctional Centre, dressed in green and wearing a cap pulled down over his face.
The affidavit produced by Detective Senior Constable Nicholas Bayliss of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad alleges Mr Schaefer’s DNA was found on a green army jacket in Willacy’s tent.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Nathan Lockett called Mr Bayliss as a witness as he put to the court the “crucial” need for DNA evidence.
“There are no eye witnesses ,” Mr Lockett said.
Mr Lockett told the court Mr Schaefer was subject to “an extremely violent attack” in which he was “bashed over the head”, stabbed six times and had his “neck slashed three times”.
The court hearing was to determine the applications for forensic procedures.
Mr Lockett told the court DNA material had been collected from Willacy, but was “degrading”. He said that included “fingernail scrapings” and “non-intimate swabs”.
“The defendant has a recent history of committing offences while on a bicycle and carrying knives,” Mr Lockett alleged.
“The court can be quite confident that the respondent was on the scene of Kye Schaefer’s death, on the DNA material,” he said
However, defence lawyer Jason Watts argued against approval of DNA testing procedures and told the court evidence against Willacy was “circumstantial’.
Mr Watts argued affidavit evidence simply showed someone who “matched or was not inconsistent with the defendant leaving the scene on a bicycle”.
He agreed the defendant was in the area – but told the court that did not make him the prime suspect.
Magistrate Theresa Hamilton considered the affidavit, witness and defence and police submissions.
She described the case as involving “the murder of a stranger just going about his own business”.
Ms Hamilton approved applications for the forensics procedures on “reasonable grounds”.
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