Joseph Matthew Koplick charged with attempted murder of Jai Anderson, Waterford West

“Give him a hiding”: A teen who died in a motorcycle crash last year was allegedly the target of an attempted shooting murder just months prior.

Joseph Matthew Koplick (left) was charged with the attempted murder of Jai Anderson (right)

A teen who died in a motorcycle crash last year was allegedly the target of an attempted shooting murder just months prior.

Beenleigh Magistrates court heard that on September 6, 2022, 16-year-old Jai Anderson was allegedly shot in the chest by Joseph Matthew Koplick after a scuffle between friends turned violent.

In a committal hearing on February 29 concerning the shooting, the court heard heard Mr Koplick allegedly shot Jai after Jai went to confront him about about earlier being run off the road while on a dirt bike in Waterford West.

Jai and a friend who was also run off the road at the time had discovered who the driver was and, along with another friend, planned to confront him at his home carrying a baseball bat to “give him a hiding”, the court heard.

The court heard Jai got out of his car and was allegedly shot in the chest by Mr Koplick.

Mr Koplick, now 24, was committed to the Supreme Court on charges of attempted murder, unlawful possession of weapons and two charges of contravening order about information stored electronically.

Jai died months later in an unrelated bike crash, which saw a driver in that incident, Tobias Fine, charged with manslaughter.

In Beenleigh Magistrates Court this week, Jai’s mother Jaclyn Cardwell and a friend gave evidence on the events leading up to the shooting.

“I could hear them on the phone arguing with somebody about being run off the road,” she said to defence barrister Saul Holt during cross examination.

The friend said he was drinking at the time and lied to police initially about his friend’s involvement in the shooting.

“I didn’t want to get my friend involved,” he said.

Defence barrister Mr Holt questioned the friend’s honesty and the accuracy of his evidence.

“You deliberately lied to police to protect your friend,” he said.

“You also told police there were no weapons when we know Jai was carrying a baseball bat.

“In your statement you said Mr Koplick had his hands behind his back hiding something but you couldn’t see his hands could you? If you couldn’t see his hands how could you possibly say they were behind his back. It’s another lie in your statement.”

The court heard the group arrived at Mr Koplick’s home and allegedly yelled out “oy, oy, oy” until he came out and told him to get in the boot. This was moments before Jai was allegedly shot in the chest by the defendant Mr Koplick.

Magistrate Patrina Clohessy committed the matter for trial to the Supreme Court at a date to be notified.

His bail was enlarged.

Originally published as Joseph Matthew Koplick charged with attempted murder of Jai Anderson, Waterford West