Lawyer for Michael Charles Cook, charged with murder of Kevin Carney, says his client will claim self-defence
A man accused of the murder of a Tweed Heads man at a wake has appeared in court with his hand in a cast, as his lawyer made clear how he intends to defend the charge.
Crime and Court
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A MAN accused of murdering another man at a wake has faced court with his hand in a cast, amid allegations he hit the victim so hard he broke his hand.
But the lawyer for the accused, Michael Charles Cook, says his client will be claiming self-defence.
Cook, 47, faced Tweed Heads Local Court today charged with murder, reckless assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.
The latter two charges were levied before the victim, Kevin Carney, 54, had his life support turned off last Wednesday, a week after the alleged assault at Cook’s Housing Commission unit on Kennedy Dr at Tweed Heads.
In court documents, police allege Cook hit Mr Carney so hard he broke his own hand.
But speaking outside court, defence lawyer Phillip Mulherin said his client denied police allegations he kicked Mr Carney in the back of the neck.
Mr Mulherin said both men were at a wake at the Tweed Heads unit, where Cook lives with his mother, after a friend’s funeral.
The lawyer said Mr Carney was not at the funeral but turned up at the wake and he and Cook got involved in a drunken fight.
“He (Cook) got hit first,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The victim fell to the floor and hit his head on plasterboard. He (Cook) denies there was a kick to the back of the head and will defend the charge.”
Cook had been granted bail on the assault charges but was rearrested at the weekend for Mr Carney’s alleged murder.
He was refused bail and will reappear in court on July 22, although Mr Mulherin flagged a bail application.
Mr Carney had been described by friends as a friendly larrikin and ‘local legend’.
His family said his organs had been donated to help save other lives.
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