Blackwall: Heroin supply trial for Nico Hynes’ mum Julie hears man died from heroin exposure

The body of a man found in the granny flat of Nicho Hynes’ mum died from heroin “toxicity” after being exposed to the drug rather than injecting it, a court has heard.

A body discovered in the rented granny flat of reigning Dally M winning halfback Nicho Hynes’ mother, Julie Hynes, on the Central Coast died from heroin “toxicity”, a court has heard.

Julie Hynes, 50, and a co-accused Michael Selvage, 59, are facing trial in Gosford District Court after each pleaded not guilty to one count of knowingly supplying heroin.

The charges came after emergency services were called to the granny flat rented by Ms Hynes on Commonwealth Ave, Blackwall, on May 25, 2021, following the suspected drug overdose of 29-year-old Luke Murphy.

The 12-person jury was presented on Monday with a brief set of agreed facts into the death of Mr Murphy, which states an autopsy confirmed his death was from “heroin toxicity”.

The facts state there were no obvious signs of intravenous drug use on Mr Murphy’s body indicating he must have been “inadvertently exposed” to the drug which got into his bloodstream via the “mucus membrane” of his nose, throat or eyes.

NRL star Nicho Hynes (left) attended court last Wednesday to support his mum Julie Hynes who has pleaded not guilty to supplying heroin.

The facts state “white powder” was found on his clothing, hands and feet, and his body showed other signs and symptoms of opioid exposure including a full bladder, retention of fluids, respiratory problems and “scratch marks” on his skin where he had been itching.

There is no suggestion Ms Hynes or Mr Selvage had anything to do with Mr Murphy’s death.

Crime scene images tendered in the trial of NRL Nicho Hynes’ mum Julie Hynes over allegations of heroin supply. Picture: Supplied

Instead the prosecution argues Mr Murphy was at the granny flat, along with Ms Hynes and Mr Selvage, to package and supply heroin using a hydraulic press.

The court heard a 226kg industrial hydraulic press, with a crush capacity of up to 50 tonnes, was located inside Ms Hynes’ bathroom along with 7.4g of heroin powder.

A further 174g of heroin was found in a dustpan in the granny flat.

DNA expert Lisa Wedervang gave evidence on Monday having analysed items from the scene against the DNA profiles of Mr Murphy, Ms Hynes and Mr Selvage.

Ms Wedervang concluded in her report that there was DNA from three individuals on the swabs taken from the knob and handle of the red hydraulic press, with the “main contributor” being Mr Murphy.

However the DNA of the two other people could not be identified.

Ms Wedervang said there was “no clear evidence” of any more than three people on the items.

Last week the court heard Mr Selvage was called by Ms Hynes to come around to her place and he told police during an interview it was to “have a root”.

The hydraulic press found in the bathroom. Picture: Supplied

He told police she was also after a metal bolt and Mr Murphy picked Mr Selvage up and they went to a friend’s house to find a bolt, which Mr Murphy took into a bathroom.

Mr Selvage said while he was at Ms Hynes’ granny flat, he was exposed to something that made him sick after going to the bathroom.

A triple 0 call Ms Hynes made after discovering Mr Murphy’s lifeless body was played to the jury in which she told the operator she believed he had been out “on a bender” and may have taken “heroin”.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Brisbane Water Detective Matthew Nicholls, gave evidence, telling the court when he arrived at the scene Mr Selvage was in the bedroom.

He said he asked a colleague “is he alive?” given the sight of Mr Selvage at the time and the fact there was already one dead body found at the location.

The trial before Judge David Wilson continues.