Leanne Rachel Stewart charged as an accessory to Frank Smith’s murder
A woman has been charged with harbouring a man charged with murdering a much-loved handyman from western NSW by shooting him in the stomach.
Dubbo News
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A woman has been charged with harbouring a man who was later charged with murdering a much-loved handyman and grandfather in the state’s west.
Leanne Rachel Stewart, 56, was charged with being an accessory to murder by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad on July 19 last year.
Brief documents tendered to Dubbo Local Court indicate police will allege Stewart “did receive, harbour, maintain and assist” Aaron Hegedus on April 27, 2020.
Hegedus, 32, was charged with murder in October 2021 following an extensive 19-month investigation into the death of 48-year-old Wellington man Frank Smith.
Police allege Hegedus shot Mr Smith in the abdomen on the morning of April 27, 2020, and the handyman stumbled into a front yard on Thornton St, Wellington, before he later died in Wellington Hospital.
Mr Smith’s death sent shockwaves throughout the Wellington community, with his distraught family members searching for answers.
Hegedus was arrested outside Wellington KFC when detectives from Strike Force Libani allegedly found a .22 Ruger rifle in Wellington, which was examined by ballistic experts and linked to the alleged murder.
The minimal documents tendered to Dubbo Local Court further allege Stewart knew Hegedus “to have committed the said serious indictable offence” and still received, harboured and assisted him.
Stewart is yet to enter a plea to her charge.
Both Stewart and Hegedus’ matters have been adjourned to Dubbo Local Court on February 2 where it is anticipated the matters will be committed to Dubbo District Court.
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