Court hears Paanice Lawrence’s son Tuki told police he was one who killed Scott Morrison

A court has been told the son of a woman accused of killing her partner made a shocking claim to police and prison officers.

THE son of accused killer Paanice Lawrence told police and prison officers he was the one that shot Lawrence’s partner dead, a court was told.

Paanice Lawrence, also known as Paania Lawrence, is accused of murdering demolition worker Scott Morrison at her Southport home in the early hours of January 3 last year.

Her son Tuki Terangi Lawrence told police it was him who shot Mr Morrison, the Southport Magistrates Court was told this morning during a committal hearing.

Gold Coast police Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Constable Steven Batchelor told the court Tuki Lawrence told him last month it was him who pulled the trigger.

Police spoke to Tuki Lawrence again after NSW prison officers alert police that Tuki Lawrence had told them he was the one who killed Mr Morrison.

Tuki Lawrence refused to give evidence in court today.

Paanice Lawrence is accused of murdering demolition worker Scott Morrison in Southport. Photo: Facebook

Defence barrister Kim Bryson asked Sen Const Bachelor: “(Tuki Lawrence) said he loaded the gun, snuck around to where their room was and at the time, Mr Morrison was jumping up to go to toilet... Mr Morrison took about four steps from the lounge and that’s when he shot him.”

Sen Const Batchelor replied: “That’s correct.”

The court was told police spoke to Tuki Lawrence briefly before recording the official interview.

“There was conversation by him asking about ‘if I tell you what you want to hear, will it get my mother out of jail’,” Sen Const Batchelor said.

“He did mention it a couple of times during the start, I don’t recall it being said during the interview.”

The court was told Mr Lawrence said Mr Morrison stumbled and put two hands on the wall and then watched him take his last three breaths before he died.

The body of Scott Morrison is removed from the house in Southport where he died.

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Mr Morrison was shot in the hip and died at Paanice Lawrence’s Waverley St, Southport address.

Sen Const Batchelor also told the court Mr Lawrence’s DNA and fingerprints were found on the gun used.

He said Paanice Lawrence’s DNA and fingerprints were not located on the weapon.

Sen Const Batchelor said Paanice Lawrence had detailed how Mr Morrison was violent towards her in the lead up to his alleged murder.

Paanice Lawrence’s daughter Harmony Lawrence, who was in the house the night of the shooting, said she heard arguing earlier in the night.

Some time later she heard a loud bang.

“I jumped up and I opened my bedroom door because I didn’t know if anything had happened to mum,” she said.

“I seen Scott coming out of the room holding his back and then he dropped.”

Friends and family of Paanice Lawrence (left) gave evidence they had been told Mr Morrison had previously punched and slapped her

Harmony Lawrence also said her mother said on New Year’s Day that Mr Morrison had hit her and left a lump on her head.

She said she did not like Mr Morrison because of the way he spoke to her mother.

“It just seemed like he was trying to belittle my mum,” she said.

Friends and family of Paanice Lawrence gave evidence they had been told Mr Morrison had previously punched and slapped her.

The court was told Paanice Lawrence kept a diary of the abuse.

A friend of Mr Morrison denied the pair were ever violent.

The committal hearing continues.