Mark Murphy allegedly tried to murder Andrews Farm man Geoffrey McLean before his death, invaded his home, court told
The man accused of murdering an Andrews Farm father allegedly attempted to kill him and invaded his home with an axe in the months before his death, court documents claim.
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The man charged with murdering Geoffrey McLean is also accused of assaulting him, invading his home and attempting to murder him in the months before his death, court documents claim.
SA Police documents, filed with the Adelaide Magistrates Court, charge Mark John Murphy with murder, attempted murder, assault, serious criminal trespass and intentionally causing serious harm to another person.
The alleged victim in each of the five charges is Mr McLean, whose partial remains were discovered in a wheelie bin on a vacant lot in October last year.
Mr Murphy, 51, of Adelaide’s north, faced court late on Friday following his arrest on Thursday.
In their documents, police allege he assaulted Mr McLean with “a bottle containing liquid” on April 10, 2022.
They further allege that, four days later, Mr Murphy invaded Mr McLean’s home at Andrews Farm while armed with “a log-splitter” – and then attempted to murder him.
That same day, police allege, Mr Murphy “caused serious harm” to Mr McLean while “intending to cause him serious harm”.
Finally, police allege Mr Murphy murdered Mr McLean sometime between August 17 and 20, 2022.
On Friday, Mr Murphy’s lawyer said her client would not be applying for bail but may do so “at another stage”, noting he “is 51 years old and has never been before the courts before”.
He was remanded in custody to face court again in June.
Outside court, representatives for Mr McLean’s family told The Advertiser they were “elated” by the arrests of Mr Murphy and a woman, 49, over the “shocking” death.
Lawyer Scott Jelbert said the McLeans were extraordinarily grateful at the latest developments in the long-running case.
“They are elated with this development and that, finally, someone has been arrested for this shocking alleged murder,” he said.
“They are grateful to both SA Police and the public for having helped name the persons accused.
“They are particularly grateful to Major Crime detectives, who have supported the entire family this whole time – they are really grateful for that.”
Mr Jelbert said the family would not attend the first court appearance of the two people arrested but would be “watching very closely”.
“They learned of this after the arrests were made and it’s too emotional for them to come along today,” he said.
REPLAY THE POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE
The 49-year-old – also from Adelaide’s northern suburbs – has also been charged with murder and will face court on Monday.
On Friday, police said they had charged the pair over the brutal dismemberment of the missing Andrews Farm father.
Mr McLean’s partial remains were discovered in a wheelie bin on a vacant lot in October last year.
Detective Inspector Mark McEachern said police had arrested and charged a 51-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, both from Adelaide’s north, with murder.
The pair was also charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespass and attempted murder over a number of attacks last year that police allege Mr McLean suffered in the lead-up to his disappearance. The woman faces an additional arson charge.
Parts of Mr McClean’s remains have not yet been found, he said.
Mr McEachern said police allege the woman was known to Mr McLean.
“In respect to the 51-year old male, we don’t believe he was known to Mr McLean but we do believe he is known to the female who was arrested today.”
More arrests are likely, he said. Police have previously ruled out drugs as a motive.
“It is believed and strongly suspected others were involved in the dismemberment, removal and transport and storage of Mr McLean’s body.
“We have got some suspects that we’re looking into in relation to that part of the investigation.”
Police have been in contact with the devastated family who are coming to grips with the new information in Mr McLean’s death.
“They’ve got very mixed emotions, obviously very stressful time,” Mr McEachern said.
“This is another development for them to deal with and cope with.
The police are still searching for some of Mr McLean’s remains.
“It’s bad enough having someone in your family killed but when you can’t find remains or a body it’s even more stressful,” he said.
Police have appealed to members of the public with any information which can assist in the ongoing information.
Police are again searching Mr McLean’s home on Leicester Grove in Andrews Farm, where he was living at the time of his disappearance. Two vehicles have been seized.
They say more arrests are likely over the “storage, dismemberment and disposal” of Mr McLean’s remains.
In February, police released CCTV footage of two people acting suspiciously near the lot where Mr McLean’s torso was dumped.
He was reported missing in late August and SA Police began a major search operation for him in September but believed he was dead.
BREAKING: Major Crime detectives are at the scene of murder victim Geoffrey McLean’s home in Andrews Farm.
— Hannah Foord (@HannahFoord7) March 3, 2023
Several vehicles have been seized.
He lived here with his partner before he went missing in August last year, his torso discovered in a wheelie bin.@7NewsAdelaidepic.twitter.com/yCXGuQYPJq
MURDER ARRESTS:
— Hannah Foord (@HannahFoord7) March 3, 2023
Police have arrested a man and woman over the murder of Andrew’s Farm man Geoffrey McLean.
Both have also been charged over a series of brutal assaults in the lead up to his murder.@7NewsAdelaidepic.twitter.com/zuoGb4Q0wg
#BREAKING A 51 yo man has been charged with the murder of Geoffrey McLean. A 49 yo woman, arrested this morning from this Andrews Farm home, is also being questioned & is expected to also be charged with his murder.
— Inga Neilsen (@inga_neilsen) March 3, 2023
Police have seized multiple items from the property @9NewsAdelpic.twitter.com/JplAPo1Hpq
Mr McLean’s torso was found in a stolen green-waste bin and found hidden under trees and vegetation at the Salisbury South scene.
Following multiple pleas for public assistance, SA Police identified the origin of the green-waste bin last month.
The bin was stolen from a home on Eastview Street at Brahma Lodge — just blocks from where the 55-year-old was dumped.
The owners of the property have been ruled out as suspects.
Police have not yet been able to locate Mr McLean’s head and limbs.
Mr McLean was last been seen alive at his Andrews Farm home on August 18, 2022.
In May, he sustained serious burns in an alleged incident involving a man known to him.
Police allege Mr McLean was doused in petrol and hydrochloric acid in the front yard of his home.
The suspect, a 62-year-old local man, fled the scene but was arrested on a nearby street.
He was charged with one aggravated count each of intentionally causing both harm and serious harm, as well as one count of assault. He was further charged with one aggravated count of serious criminal trespass.
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