Mark Andrew Nolan, 66, in court charged with alleged murder of Coffs Harbour grandfather Duncan Campbell
A homeless 66-year-old man who allegedly bludgeoned a beloved Coffs grandfather to death with a steel pole has faced court, as police try to track down a murder weapon. See the video.
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A homeless 66-year-old man who allegedly bludgeoned a beloved Coffs grandfather to death with a steel pole has faced court, as police try to track down a murder weapon.
Mark Andrew Nolan was arrested by Homicide Squad detectives at the Country 2 Coast Motor Inn adjacent to the Big Banana on the Pacific Hwy at Coffs Harbour on Wednesday afternoon.
A grey-haired and unshaven Nolan – who has been charged with murder – appeared via audio visual link in Coffs Harbour court on Thursday, wearing a blue shirt and rocking back and forth prior to and during proceedings, all the while being closely monitored through a glass pane.
His defense solicitor Hugh Schleiger did not apply for bail on behalf of his client and bail was formally refused by Magistrate Julia Virgo during his first appearance.
State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said that the $500,000 reward offered earlier this week had sparked the community to come forward with information.
“After a reward there’s a lot of information that comes forward – and a whole lot of jigsaw puzzles, as I always say, makes a picture,” he said.
Under Strike Force Belinda on Tuesday, detectives made a public appeal for information and announced a $500,000 reward announcement for anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the grandfather’s murder.
Superintendent Doherty said while the pair were known to each other and both homeless at the time – a motive was unclear.
Nolan is a local man “known to police”, and “was living in his van at the time in the area where Duncan was allegedly murdered,” he said.
Mr Campbell, then aged 58, was last seen on Sunday February 4 last year in Albany St, Coffs Harbour.
When he was unable to be located or contacted, he was reported missing to police on February 9.
At about 3.30pm on February, 12, Coffs-Clarence police found Mr Campbell’s body in bushland on John Champion Way near a campsite at City Hill.
Police allege the man bludgeoned Mr Campbell to death with a steel pole between Sunday February, 4 and Monday, February 5 last year.
They are yet to find the murder weapon.
While his death was initially deemed not suspicious, further examination revealed he was “brutally bashed and murdered, according to State Crime Command Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty.
The matter has been adjourned with Nolan to appear before Coffs Harbour court on April 29.
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Originally published as Mark Andrew Nolan, 66, in court charged with alleged murder of Coffs Harbour grandfather Duncan Campbell
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