Max Lowcock, Adam Garvey plead not guilty over alleged role in David King shooting death at Salt Ash
Two men charged over their alleged role in the shooting death of drug dealer David King have denied their involvement and will head to a trial.
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Two men charged over their alleged role in the shooting death of drug dealer David King have denied their involvement and will head to a trial.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Max Lowcock, 29, appeared via video link and pleaded not guilty to murdering the 45-year-old on August 29 at Salt Ash last year.
He also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, a charge of being armed with an offensive weapon to rob Mr King of drugs and possession of an unauthorised firearm.
Mr King, who was on bail for drug dealing offences, was allegedly shot in the face at close range while he drove his Ford Ranger utility along Hideaway Close in what police allege to be a drug deal gone wrong.
Adam Kane Garvey, 40, also appeared via video link and pleaded not guilty to concealing the alleged murder, hindering a police investigation, detaining a person in company and possession of an unauthorised firearm.
Charges of being an accessory after the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to kidnapping were withdrawn.
Both men have been committed to a trial in the Supreme Court and will be arraigned on November 4.
Two other men, Elijah Cage and Tyson George Stamp, have also been charged over the murder of Mr King and had their matters mentioned, but both were adjourned until next month for negotiations to continue.
Both are also facing a kidnapping charge, possession of an unauthorised firearm, robbery with an offensive weapon and damaging property by fire while Cage has an extra charge of aggravated sexual assault.
Police allege Cage had organised the drug deal of about half an ounce of methamphetamine, but had attempted to rob Mr King before he sped away in his vehicle.
But detectives allege that either Cage or Lowcock had shot the 45-year-old twice in the neck and head before the vehicle slammed into a tree.
Stamp, 28, is alleged to have been the getaway driver in a Santa Fe, using it to transport people from the crime scene at Salt Ash, before setting it alight at Heatherbrae.
Detectives also allege he did not fire the shotgun but was at the scene at the time of the shooting.
Cage and Lowcock were arrested in September last year, before Garvey and Stamp were later arrested in November.
Police allege a woman, who was with Mr King but not involved in the alleged murder, was detained by the three men before being released without harm.
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