Novy Chardon trial: Accused said she’d ‘flogged’ jewellery and fled

A senior police officer has told the John Chardon trial how an ex-boyfriend of wife Novy was ruled out as a person of interest in her murder.

John Chardon at a previous court appearance

A SENIOR police officer investigating the alleged murder of Novy Chardon said there was no evidence to suggest the Gold Coast mother’s ex-boyfriend was involved in her alleged killing.

John Chardon, 71, is on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court for the murder of his wife Novy Chardon, on or about February 6, 2013.

He has pleaded not guilty.

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Detective Sergeant Jonathan Birt today gave evidence Amir Talaei-Khoei had previously been a person of interest in the investigation into Novy’s alleged murder and disappearance.

The court has previously heard Mr Talaei-Khoei and Novy dated in early 2012 but the pair agreed to separate later that year.

Earlier, the jury heard the man did not have an alibi for the days following Novy’s disappearance.

Today, Mr Birt told the court Mr Talaei-Khoei was among many people who had been considered a person of interest in the course of the investigation, but the man was later excluded as a suspect.

The court heard on the day Novy went missing, phone records showed Mr Talaei-Khoei was in Mooloolaba.

Detective Sergeant Jonothan Birt outside Brisbane Supreme Court today. Picture: Sarah Marshall/AAP

Novy Chardon

Swipe access records to his apartment complex also showed the man had not left the building on the day Novy disappeared and there were no toll-road records to show his car travelled toward the Gold Coast, the jury was told.

Mr Birt also said there was a “total absence of contact” from Mr Talaei-Khoei to Novy during that time.

“We kept an open mind in this investigation, and Mr Talaei-Khoei wasn’t the only (person of interest) we looked into, but as for him, these are the reasons why at that point I was happy to say there was absolutely no information to suggest that he was involved in murder of Novy Chardon,” he said.

Novy was last seen on February 6, 2013.

She has not used her bank accounts, left the country or seen a doctor since that date but her body has never been found, Crown prosecutor Mark Green told the court during the murder trial.

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

In a record of interview played to the jury, Charon told police his missing wife had “flogged” jewellery he bought her and disappeared.

“I honestly believe she’s... flogged the jewellery and disappeared because someone put the fear of Christ into her,” Chardon tells officers six years ago.

In the interview, which was conducted on February 28, 2013, Chardon tells police he suspected Novy had fallen in with the wrong crowd and had played a part in an alleged break-in where the 71-year-old claimed firearms were stolen.

“Whoever she’s hooked up with, I think they’ve done the dirty on her,” Chardon tells officers.

The court heard police attended the pair’s Upper Coomera property one evening in December 2012 after Chardon reported a gun safe containing weapons had been stolen.

The court heard there was no evidence of a break-in at the property.

The trial continues.

EARLIER:

ACCUSED killer John Chardon told police his missing wife had “flogged” the jewellery he bought her and disappeared.

During an interview with detectives in the weeks after his Novy Chardon went missing, the Gold Coast lubricant tycoon said he had no idea where the 34-year-old mother had gone.

“I honestly believe she’s knocked off, flogged the jewellery and disappeared because someone put the fear of Christ into her,” Chardon told officers more than six years ago.

Novy was last seen on February 6, 2013.

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

His wife has not used her bank accounts, left the country or seen a doctor since that date, but her body has never been found, Crown prosecutor Mark Green told the court during the murder trial.

Novy’s car was found nearby the Nerang train station about five days after she went missing.

In the interview, which was conducted on February 28, 2013, Chardon tells police he suspected Novy had fallen in with the wrong crowd and played a part in an alleged break-in where the 71-year-old claimed firearms were stolen.

“Whoever she’s hooked up with, I think they’ve done the dirty on her,” Chardon tells officers.

During the interview with police Chardon also told detectives he “didn’t like people much”.

“I don’t even like people much... I just don’t talk to people, I prefer my own (company),” he said.

The court heard police had attended the couple’s Upper Coomera property one evening in December 2012 after Chardon reported a gun safe containing three weapons had been stolen.

Chardon, who had a firearm licence, told police who arrived at the address there were two separate gun safes at the address and one contained rifles and the other handguns.

The 71-year-old told officers who investigated the break-in he was separated from his wife and gave them the number for her boyfriend, known as Ben.

The court heard the second safe, which contained the rifles, had not been tampered with.

A room containing ammunition also did not show signs of forced entry and no other property at the home had been stolen either, the court heard.

The police officer who investigated the break in, Sergeant Stephen Taylor, today told the court he was unable to find any evidence of a break-in at the property.

“I suppose the stand out part of the burglary from my end of it was that the house was a relatively new dwelling, well kept, it had expensive Crimsafe stuff all over the windows and there were Crimsafe security doors. All the door latches were still intact...” he said.

“The next day I’ve gone back and at that point I’ve inspected the house more thoroughly in the daylight and I’ve spoken to neighbours to see if anyone heard an alarm at all.”

The officer said he also went out into the yard and through a fire trail at the back of the property.

“I looked for any track marks... any impressions... and there was no evidence of that,” Sgt Taylor said.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Novy Chardon trial: Accused said she’d ‘flogged’ jewellery and fled