NRL star Nicho Hynes’ mother Julie faces trial over alleged heroin supply
The mother of NRL star Nicho Hynes is facing trial over her alleged role supplying heroin before a death in her two-bedroom granny flat.
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The mother of NRL star Nicho Hynes was herself taken to hospital “pale and dishevelled” the day a friend died from heroin toxicity in her two-bedroom granny flat, a court has heard.
Luke Murphy, 29, had a cardiac arrest from an allegedly accidental heroin overdose at Julie Hynes’s home on Commonwealth Ave in Blackwall on May 25, 2021.
A paramedic who attended the scene told the court Ms Hynes, 50, complained of tightness in the chest and was light headed.
Ms Hynes and co-accused Michael Selvage are on trial at Gosford District Court after pleading not guilty to knowingly taking part in heroin supply on May 25.
Ms Hynes is the mother of Cronulla halfback and the reigning Dally M player of the year Nicho Hynes.
Mr Hynes — who also played for the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Mackay Cutters in Queensland as well as the Melbourne Storm in Victoria — accompanied his mum to court on Wednesday with his older brother Wade.
Ms Hynes commented it was “nice to have both of them” there in support.
Nicho and Wade are not alleged to have had any role in any alleged wrongdoing.
Investigations into the alleged drug supply were launched following Mr Murphy’s death.
The trial began this week before Judge David Wilson with both Ms Hynes and Mr Selvage appearing in person.
They have both been seated in the courtroom dock, with Ms Hynes taking extensive notes on occasions throughout the trial.
Crime scene images have been tendered in the trial, showing a 226kg hydraulic press located in Ms Hynes’s bathroom which the Crown says Mr Murphy used to package heroin before his death.
On Wednesday, Brisbane Water Police District Senior Constable Brett Spencer gave evidence about his investigation into the incident.
Jurors watched body-worn footage of Constable Spencer talking to Mr Selvage before he was taken into custody.
Mr Selvage spoke about being at Ms Hynes’ house on May 25, after being called over about 2am, and said at one point in the early hours of the morning he could hear someone “gurgling”.
“Then someone died and I thought ‘f--k’,” he told the officer.
Sergeant Michael Taylor gave evidence about what he found when he investigated the scene on May 26.
He told the court he seized Coles and Woolworths plastic bags in the backyard, including one containing a Nutribullet blender with a white substance inside, along with resealable bags and grey gaffer tape.
When Sgt Taylor was cross-examined and asked if he found an instruction booklet for a hydraulic press, he said “no”.
Former Senior Constable Rowena Thompson, who arrested Ms Hynes on her 49th birthday the next day while she was at a friend’s house in Ettalong Beach, gave evidence about the arrest.
Ms Hynes asked the officer “what am I being charged with?” and said she did not have her phones.
“I haven’t got my phone. I haven’t had my phone since yesterday. I don’t know where my phone is,” she allegedly said on May 26.
NSW Ambulance paramedic Kirt Wheeler, who was a treating paramedic on scene on May 25, said he was called to Commonwealth Ave about 1.20pm for a “cardiac arrest” and found a lady outside who appeared visibly upset.
He told the court when he arrived, other paramedics had commenced CPR which continued for another 20 minutes until Mr Murphy showed no signs of life.
Mr Wheeler said he was called back to the house half an hour later for Mr Selvage who he said was unable to urinate and showing signs of “opioid use”.
He said he also attended to Ms Hynes who complained of “tightness” and was “dishevelled and very pale” before taking both Mr Selvage and Ms Hynes to hospital.
Mr Wheeler said Mr Hynes told him she felt distressed, anxious, light headed and lethargic, having suddenly lost a close friend. However, she denied any drug use.
He said both patients “may have been exposed to heroin” and was told at the scene by a colleague that Mr Selvage had white powder on his clothes.
The trial continues, with the Crown expected to wrap up its case by Friday.
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Originally published as NRL star Nicho Hynes’ mother Julie faces trial over alleged heroin supply
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