Conrad Peter Lardner charged with murder after death of David Vale in Kempsey, Leearna Nicole Davis charged with accessory after fact
Police will allege in court a much-loved Mid-North Coast dad of nine stabbed to death on the street divulged the name of his killer as he died in the arms of his family. Here’s the latest.
Mid-North Coast
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Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains images of a deceased person.
Police will allege in court a much-loved Mid-North Coast father stabbed to death on the street divulged the name of his killer with his dying breath.
It comes as David Vale’s heartbroken family have called for justice for the 39-year-old taken too soon, after Conrad Peter Lardner was charged with murder and Leearna Nicole Davis with accessory after the fact.
Emergency services were called to Robert Eggins St, South Kempsey following reports Mr Vale suffered a stab wound earlier this year, about 11pm on March 1.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 39-year-old man, but he died at the scene – in the arms of his nephew, according to family.
Lardner, 48, applied for bail at Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday.
His solicitor said Lardner, an Aboriginal man, needed to be at liberty to appropriately treat his diabetes and asthma and to prepare his legal defence for the “complicated” case.
“It’s a complicated matter, it’s legally complicated in a way that would require him to have access to his legal team and for that reason it would be more appropriate for him to be free with strict conditions,” the solicitor told the court.
“He’s vulnerable being an Aboriginal man in custody and there are currently uncertainties and variables in the facts – we submit it’s a circumstantial case.”
But a police prosecutor said Lardner would be able to access medical support and his legal representatives even if he remained in custody.
The prosecutor also told the court the Crown case was based on the victim allegedly identifying Lardner as his killer before he died.
The court heard CCTV footage would show him wearing the same shorts as a person identified in relevant footage from the incident.
“There is a dying declaration by the deceased, he outlines the circumstances of the offending, and he names the accused,” the prosecutor told the court.
“That’s the direct evidence of the deceased, there are also witnesses … and there is partial CCTV that corroborates the evidence.”
Magistrate Rana Daher found there was a strong prosecution case and there was no reason Lardner’s detention on remand was not justified.
Ms Daher also noted Lardner had previously served a prison term for a violent offence and that his criminal history was of concern.
Bail was denied and the case was adjourned to Kempsey Local Court on June 21.
Family members who attended court to support Lardner called out “love you brother” and “love you dad” and waved at the audiovisual link before they left court, refusing to be drawn by media outside.
Davis, 31, also faced the Kempsey court on Thursday and bail was denied by Magistrate Scott Nash
Members of Mr Vale’s family cheered about the result as they walked out of the courthouse.
The wife of Mr Vale, Jessica Howard, said Mr Vale was “the best father anyone could ever have”.
”And he was a beautiful husband too. And a beautiful family man. A warrior of his town,” she said.
“He’s got nine children. A life taken too short. We’re just hoping to get answers and justice for what happened to David.”
Ms Howard said she was pleased to see her partner’s tragic death and the court case being highlighted by the media.
“Everyone else can know what’s happened to him … we’re finally getting justice,” she said.
Meanwhile, a memorial has sprung up for Mr Vale near where he died in Kempsey. It was visited by Ms Howard and their children after Davis’s bail hearing.
It will be alleged by police that Mr Vale died due to a single stab wound inflicted by a knife during a street fight with Lardner, who was known to him.
Mid-North Coast Police officers, with the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Weigand to investigate Mr Vale’s death.
Detectives raided an Airds address about 9.35am on Wednesday and arrested Lardner.
They were assisted by officers from the Campbelltown Police Area Command, Bass Hill Regional Enforcement Squad, the Police Dog Unit and Polair.
In a press conference outside Surry Hills Police Station on Thursday, Detective Inspector Peter O’Reilly said electronic devices and clothing were seized as part of the investigation and will undergo forensic examination.
He said a knife was used in the attack and a single stab wound to the chest was found.
Mr O’Reilly alleged the 39-year-old – Vale – “had been involved in an altercation with another male” – Lardner – on the South Kempsey street. He said the men knew each other.
He said this led police to arrest Lardner, who was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and subsequently charged with murder.
During the raid, police seized a number of items relevant to the investigation, which will undergo forensic examination.
Mr O’Reilly said any more arrests were “subject to further investigations”.
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