Zachary Fraser charged with Darcy Schafer-Turner’s murder in Peakhurst

A 22 year-old man allegedly murdered his friend in Sydney’s south before a Brisbane “cleaner” was hired to sanitise the crime scene and dispose of the body inside a metal cabinet in a creek.

A man has been charged with the murder of his friend whose wrapped body was found dumped inside a metal cabinet in a creek allegedly at the hands of “The Cleaner” who was called in to dispose of evidence.

It can be revealed, after a court suppression order was lifted, Zachary Richard Fraser, 22, was arrested at his Peakhurst home on Monday following a Homicide Squad investigation into the alleged murder of Darcy Schafer-Turner.

Detectives recovered Mr Schafer-Turner’s body inside a large metal cabinet dumped in a creek at Macksville on the Mid-North Coast on Friday.

On Wednesday, investigators went to Brisbane and arrested a businessman Charles Dennis Le Marchant Turnbull, 33, on an outstanding extradition warrant for accessory to murder.

Darcy Schafer-Turner was allegedly murdered in Peakhurst in April. Picture: Facebook

The investigation began after the Regional Enforcement Squad South established Strike Force Almug to look into the alleged supply of drugs in the Caringbah area.

Homicide police started investigating the disappearance of Mr Schafer-Turner after he was reported a missing person.

Fraser is alleged to have murdered Mr Schafer-Turner between April 27 and 29 at Peakhurst, court documents said.

On Sunday, NSW Police Homicide Squad commander Virginia Gorman said police will allege the motivation for the murder relates to drugs.

“I understand that the family are absolutely devastated,” Ms Gorman said.

“For a man so young to die in circumstances like that is just awful.”

Ms Gorman said it was “horrifying” that the man was dumped in the creek by people who hoped he would “just disappear”.

His sister Jazmyn Schafer posted a touching tribute to her younger brother.

“Darcy, I can’t believe you’re gone. My heart has shattered into a million pieces I love you so much.”

A Brisbane businessman Charles Turnbull was arrested on an outstanding warrant, with an application made for his extradition to NSW. Picture: NSW Police

The Courier Mail reported that Turnbull applied for bail in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday where a police prosecutor alleged Turnbull, who is the owner of AAG Group and works in the transport industry, was called to Sydney to assist as “The Cleaner” to sanitise the murder scene and dispose of the body.

Turnbull allegedly boarded a flight from Brisbane to Sydney and when he arrived he went to Bunnings to purchase chlorine, coveralls, duct tape, gloves and cleaning material.

Police allege he then attended a Peakhurst unit where Mr Schafer-Turner’s body was before he allegedly made another trip to Bunnings, in the deceased’s ute, to buy a large metal cabinet, drill, zip ties and rolls of black plastic.

It was alleged in court that Turnbull then commenced cleaning the crime scene and wrapped Mr Schafer-Turner’s body in plastic and placed it in the metal cabinet which was then taken downstairs to the car park.

Charles Turnbull was allegedly called to Sydney to assist as “The Cleaner”.

It’s alleged the metal cabinet was placed in the back of the deceased‘s ute and covered with tarpaulin.

“Police will allege the 22-year-old male called in the 33-year-old male from Queensland to assist,” Ms Gorman said.

“It took a couple days for him to arrive. Once he came to Sydney, the missing person was put into a metal locker and taken away.”

Ms Gorman said the 22-year-old man had called on someone he could “rely on to come and do the job”.

“The 33-year-old was brought in as a cleaner,” she said.

“He is known to Queensland Police, but I cannot comment on that any further.”

Turnbull was allegedly paid a sum of cash for his help before travelling north the following day in the deceased’s ute with the body.

After allegedly purchasing a trailer and aluminium boat at Port Macquarie on Facebook marketplace he then drove north to Warrell Creek south of Macksville.

Turnbull allegedly dumped the metal cabinet containing the body in the middle of Warrell Creek.

Police allege Turnbull returned to Queensland and continued to use the ute, which remains outstanding, until May 8.

Turnbull was refused bail and he will remain in Queensland until he is extradited to NSW to face the accessory to murder charge.

In Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday a suppression order was made preventing the identification of Fraser’s name while police carried out Turnbull’s arrest.

Fraser did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

He will reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 17.