NSW Police called to earlier knife threat by alleged murderer Christopher Bouggas
A man charged with murdering his two housemates allegedly threatened them with a knife weeks earlier — now questions are being asked if more could have been done to prevent the deaths.
Police & Courts
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A man charged with murdering his two housemates allegedly threatened them with a knife three weeks earlier.
Now questions are being asked if more could have been done to prevent the deaths.
Police took no action against Christopher Bouggas, 41, despite allegedly witnessing him with a knife when they arrived at his unit on January 6.
Police allege a few weeks later Bouggas brutally murdered 52-year-old Steven Finlay and his partner Mitch Watson, 32, inside the Redfern boarding house they shared.
Investigators believe there had been disputes between Bouggas, Mr Finlay and Mr Watson over several weeks but details of any motive are yet to be heard in open court.
The incident in the weeks leading up to their deaths allegedly saw the couple call police over concerns they were being threatened at the boarding house by Bouggas.
They allegedly identified Bouggas as the man threatening them when officers arrived.
Police allegedly witnessed him dropping a knife behind a bed. When questioned he allegedly said it was “just a butter knife”.
Police left and no further action was taken.
A source said the situation may have been different if police had taken out an apprehended violence order, as would have been the procedure in a domestic violence scenario.
“Something like this shouldn’t have happened,” the source said.
An AVO would have prevented Bouggas going near or contacting the men.
NSW Police were contacted for comment but said they had no record of the January 6 incident, despite it being captured on bodywork video and being referenced in their statement of facts against Bouggas.
The property where the two men died this week remains a crime scene, with police applying to a court for several forensic procedures against Bouggas.
Mr Finlay and Mr Watson died after one of the men had rung emergency services while suffering serious injuries.
Images of the room the men were found in revealed DVDs, suitcases and trash stacked high to the ceiling.
Bouggas was arrested at the same property shortly after police and paramedics arrived and was charged at Mascot police station with two counts of murder.
He did not appear in Central Local Court on Monday when his case was mentioned for the first time.
He did not appear in Central Local Court on Monday when his case was mentioned for the first time and his lawyer Mostafa Daoudie declined to comment but said he had been unable to speak with Bouggas from inside Parklea jail.
NSW Police were contacted for comment but said they had no record of the January 6 incident, despite it being captured on bodywork video and being referenced in their statement of facts against Bouggas.
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