Tara Brown murder accused Lionel Patea to stand trial
A FORMER Bandido accused of murdering Gold Coast woman Tara Brown in a vicious roadside attack has been ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
Crime and Court
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crime and Court. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A FORMER Bandido accused of murdering Gold Coast woman Tara Brown in a vicious roadside attack has been ordered to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
Family and friends of the slain mum faced the accused killer and former partner Lionel John Patea, 24, during a brief hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court today.
A silent vigil in support of Tara was held outside the court this morning.
Patea is charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Patea didn’t speak during his appearance as a packed gallery, including Ms Brown’s mother, watched on.
Members of Patea’s family, including his brother, were also in the courtroom.
The ex-Bandidos bikie is accused of running Ms Brown’s car off the road on a suburban Gold Coast street on September 8 and then bludgeoning her to death with a fire hydrant cover while she was trapped in her overturned vehicle.
The partner of Ms Brown’s mother, Jonathan Gardner, said outside court it had been “tough” to be in the same room as Patea.
“It’s something you can’t prepare for I think but you’ve got to do it,” Mr Gardner said.
Earlier, about 30 people laid roses at the courthouse entrance in a show of support for Ms Brown.
The group also used the occasion to speak out against domestic violence.
Ms Brown’s boss, Jason Hall, said the past two months had been “devastating” for those who knew her but it was important to keep her memory alive.
“We’re here just for Tara today,” Mr Hall said.
“We’ve got a situation where there’s been so many domestic violence incidents now over this last period that it’s got to change.
“We can’t do this again.”
Patea is also facing a murder charge on an unrelated matter. He is accused of killing missing father-of-two Greg Dufty along with New Zealand man Aaron John Crawford.
Mr Dufty, 37, hasn’t been seen since he went missing on the Gold Coast in June.
Crawford, 27, and Patea’s matters in regards to Mr Dufty have been adjourned until January 28.
A date for Patea’s trial is yet to be set
Tara Brown remembered as case against her alleged killer in court
MORE than 40 people have staged a silent vigil in support of slain Gold Coast mum Tara Brown outside the Southport Magistrates Court.
Family and friends began gathering before 9am today.
The case involving her former partner and ex-Bandido Lionel Patea, who is accused of her murder, was up for mention in court later this morning.
Friends gathered with red roses said the silent protest was to show that domestic violence as unacceptable.
On September 10, Ms Brown died after sustaining fatal injuries, having allegedly been beaten by Patea at the side of a road in Molendinar.
A former sergeant-in-arms of the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle club, Patea was charged under the Government’s Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act (VLAD) with attempted murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
The charge was later upgraded to murder following Ms Brown’s death after she was taken off a life support machine.
The vigil this morning was staged before the start of his committal hearing at the court.
DV Connect CEO Di Mangan said it had been decided to shift the red rose tribute day ceremony from Brisbane to the Coast in a tribute to Ms Brown.
“We’re holding it down here today, it’s a fairly significant day,” Ms Mangan said.
Since the deaths of Ms Brown and Karina Lock who was shot at McDonald’s Helensvale at day later, the service has had double the number of telephone calls for help, she said.
“Queensland got the biggest wake-up call in its life. These were two women murdered publicly,” Ms Mangan said.
Lawyer Jason Hall, who was Ms Brown’s boss, supported family members who attended this morning vigil as they placed the roses in front of the courthouse building.
“Today is about the start of justice. Domestic violence has become way too common in Queensland particularly, and in Australia. We need to change things now, “ he said.
Vicious public assault ‘could not be stopped’
A man who "couldn't be stopped" when he grabbed his partner by the hair and dragged her 100m through a Gold Coast shopping centre car park has now faced court over two dozen charges.
‘I’m not going to promise you anything’
A mother facing a string of drug offences was perhaps too honest with a magistrate yesterday after she initially couldn’t guarantee being on her best behaviour.