Novy Chardon ‘feared husband John would kill her’, friend tells court

Before her disappearance in 2013, Novy Chardon told a friend she feared her husband would kill her, warning the woman to call police if she didn’t return from an overseas trip, a Brisbane court has heard.

NOVY Chardon allegedly told a neighbour prior to her disappearance that she feared her husband would kill her, a court has heard.

Glenn Liscombe today gave evidence in accused wife killer John Chardon’s murder trial.

Chardon is accused of killing his wife Novy on or about February 6, 2013.

He has pleaded not guilty to the murder in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

Novy was last seen on February 6, 2013.

She has not used her bank accounts, left the country and seen a doctor since that date but her body has never been found, the court has heard.

Her car was found nearby the Nerang train station on about five days after Novy went missing.

Mr Liscombe, who lived across the road from Chardon and Novy on the Gold Coast when the 34-year-old disappeared, told the jury the woman had told him “she was having problems with the relationship”.

“Well, she feared for her life, she told me that,” he told the court.

Novy Chardon was last seen in February, 2013.

Mr Liscombe later said: “She said that if she didn’t come back from an overseas trip that John had probably killed her or organised for her to be killed, and for me to go to the police if I didn’t see her”.

The Upper Coomera resident said the day after Novy went missing he saw a lot of “erratic” activity at the home with cars coming and going.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Tony Kimmins, Mr Liscombe agreed Chardon had invited him to the home to “show off” his expensive pool and Novy’s designer handbags, worth about $40,000.

Mr Liscombe told the court on the day after Novy went missing, he also saw a stainless steel box being taken out to Chardon’s car, which contained a carpet cleaner vacuum.

Another neighbour, Rachael Weiley, gave evidence she had tried to keep Chardon and Novy at arms length because their relationship problems were “one of those things” she didn’t want to be involved in.

“It was very clear how strange the situation was and it was one of those situations where you know it was a not good situation, so it was a need-to-know basis,” she told the court.

“(I remember just how) strange the whole situation was, he was never there a lot and she seemed to have her own life and she was always saying she wanted a divorce but they never got a divorce.”

John William Chardon has been charged with the murder of his wife Novy Chardon. Picture: Darren England

Ms Weiley also said she often told Novy to leave Chardon and forget the assets.

“I used to say to her just go, don’t worry about the money, just get out of there,” she said.

Ms Weiley also gave evidence on the evening Novy disappeared she saw Chardon “fly” into his garage and the roof of the car hit the garage door, making all the neighbours look.

Another woman, Kylie Fryer, who became friends with Novy because their children went to school together, this morning gave evidence in Chardon’s murder trial.

Ms Fryer told the court she had planned to see the woman and her daughter on the weekend after February 6, 2013 to make up for being busy but “never had the chance” because Novy went missing.

“She loved her kids... they were her world... she was always cuddling them, making sure they had everything they needed... she was a good mum, a very good mum,” Ms Fryer said.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Novy Chardon ‘feared husband John would kill her’, friend tells court