Max Waller’s friend warned him not to go out alone for a fight the night he was fatally stabbed in Broadbeach

A FRIEND of a murdered Bandido associate Max Waller says the trauma of finding the body after the brutal stabbing had “destroyed” him.

Wade Yates-Taui enters Southport court. Picture Glenn Hampson

A FRIEND of murdered Bandido associate Max Waller says the trauma of finding the body after the brutal stabbing had “destroyed” him.

Travis Shelley, who says he was smoking ice with Waller at Carmel by the Sea the night he was killed, was one of four witnesses who gave evidence yesterday over video link because of safety concerns.

Armed police were present during the third day of the committal hearing for Mongols bikies Benjamin Mortimer and Wade Yates-Taui and their non-bikie coaccused, Cohen Andrew Smith.

The men are charged in relation to the stabbing death of Waller, a rival gang associate, in Broadbeach on June 23, 2013.

Mr Shelley told the Southport Magistrates Court that Waller had received a phone call and text messages, which he thought were from Smith, that left him “frustrated” on the night he was stabbed.

Witness Karlee Ironside gave evidence at Southport Court. She is the ex-girlfriend of murder victim Max Waller. Picture: Luke Marsden.

“One of them rang up and they wanted to fight him,” he said.

“I’m not sure who he was with.”

He said he warned Waller not to leave by himself but then later noticed that he had left the apartment and became worried.

Less than an hour later, Mr Shelley said he found his friend’s body.

“The trauma has just destroyed me,” he said.

“From when I went down there and found him.”

Waller’s ex-girlfriend and wannabe Playboy Bunny, Karlee Ironside, said she had heard rumours about his death but said she “certainly didn’t think” the three men accused would have done it.

Max Waller.

Ms Ironside said she could not recall if she had seen photos of Waller with guns on social media.

“I didn’t actually think Max was involved in that side of criminal activity,” she said.

She said she didn’t remember a home invasion in 2012 where Waller and three others allegedly entered her home with guns, or an occasion when he came over to her home to give her Xanax after she had plastic surgery on her nose and breasts.

Ms Ironside, who was sentenced last year for getting stuck on the tram tracks while drug driving, left the court flanked by police after giving evidence in a separate room over video link.

Former ice dealer Regan Dreckmeyer said he thought he had gone to Casino in northern NSW to sell drugs on the night Waller was killed and said he was “pretty sure” he borrowed Yates-Taui’s car.

Mr Dreckmeyer said he found out in the morning about the death, then met up with Smith behind the Sorrento shops.

He refused to answer questions about conversations with Yates-Taui and Mortimer about Waller’s death and whether people had admitted to being present during the stabbing.

The committal hearing was adjourned to allow police time to find four witnesses who were issued warrants and another witness who could not be found.

The court was told one of the witnesses, Dane Milkovic, was allegedly in the car with the three accused about the time of the alleged offence.

Another of the missing witnesses was the last person to see Waller alive.

The hearing will continue on April 15.