Daniel McJannett denied bail over alleged Mt Tamborine gym weight murder of Matthew Berry
A Gold Coast man accused of bashing his childhood friend to death with a gym weight has been denied bail, just two years after serving as a groomsman at his wedding.
The alleged murder of a man by his groomsman was underpinned by drug related activity, a court has heard.
Gold Coast man Daniel Robert McJannett, 39, is accused by police of bashing his friend Matthew Berry, 37, to death with a gym weight at the alleged victim’s home in 2023.
Just two years earlier McJannett served as groomsman when his childhood friend married Edwina, who on Thursday was visibly relieved when the alleged killer was denied bail.
Justice Peter Callaghan said McJannett had been convicted many times of drug-related offending and also had weapons offending on his criminal history.
“But there was nothing in there that suggested he was capable of the violence which attended the brutal murder with which he’s now charged,” he said.
“The killing does, however, appear to be underpinned by some drug-related activity. So there is that connection.”
Police allege the Gold Coast builder was slain at his Mt Tamborine home where he was living after separating from Edwina, who discovered Mr Berry’s battered body and attended today’s bail hearing.
Police allege McJannett killed Mr Berry and removed a significant quantity of cannabis from the property along with a modem linked to Mr Berry’s home CCTV cameras.
McJannett, who was self-represented at the hearing, is charged with murder, possessing drugs and stealing.
He told the Supreme Court he would be looking for work and “things like that” if released on bail.
“And any counselling that is necessary and ankle bracelet monitoring,” the glazier and crane operator said.
Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan opposed bail alleging the current case against McJannett for murder was a strong one.
“Mr McJannett has a prevalence of committing offences while subjected to court orders,” he said.
“When he’s before the Supreme Court in relation to this trial, will mark the third time in less than 10 years that he’s been before the state’s most significant court and now for the most serious offence.
“A catch-all statement by him in an affidavit that he’s willing to undergo counselling for some unknown, untreated, undiagnosed, underlying feature perhaps could have been more appropriately dealt with when he was placed on parole by not one but two judges of this court.”
Justice Callaghan refused bail.
“He faces a potentially strong case, and the consequences of that conviction will be severe, so his incentive to flee is high,” he said.
Originally published as Daniel McJannett denied bail over alleged Mt Tamborine gym weight murder of Matthew Berry
