Nitikia Peacock, Bowen Gregory Milne, Joshua House: What court has heard about Morphett Vale midnight alleged attempted murder
The pregnant topless adult entertainer, her client and the alleged jealous boyfriend ... everything courts have heard about a bloody midnight alleged murder plot in Adelaide’s south.
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A southern suburbs man was left fighting for life after it is alleged the jealous boyfriend of a pregnant “adult entertainer” orchestrated a brazen revenge attack, a court has heard.
Jared Hocking, 27, was rushed to hospital with stab wounds after Bowen Gregory Milne, 22, and Joshua House, 27, allegedly chased him through the hallway of his Morphett Vale property wielding a knife, crowbar and machete.
During a last-ditch bail application on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Rachel Gray heard 21-year-old Nitika Peacock, of Christie Downs, had been hired by Mr Hocking as a “topless waiter”.
There, the court heard Ms Peacock “talked for an hour” with Mr Hocking, before returning home – to the annoyance of her partner and co-accused Mr Milne, of Port Noarlunga, who had received a text from Mr Hocking saying they “did more than just talk”.
The next night, Ms Peacock was allegedly picked up by Mr Milne and told they were “going to get drinks” with Mr House, who was present in the car.
They never made it to the pub – and, instead, arrived out the front of Mr Hocking’s home.
Here’s everything we know so far about the case, including how Ms Peacock – who was still wearing the pink dressing gown she left home with – was “made” to knock on the door, allegedly paving the way for her co-accused to burst through and allegedly try to kill Mr Hocking.
March 27, 4am – early-morning call
During her bail review application, defence lawyer Joanne Liptak told the court Ms Peacock was working for an “adult entertainment business” when she was called to Mr Hocking’s address about 4am on March 27.
There, the court heard Ms Peacock – while topless – “talked for an hour” with Mr Hocking, before returning home.
However, her boyfriend Mr Milne had been told by Mr Hocking the two “did more than just talk”, which Ms Peacock vehemently denied.
“I didn’t do what they were saying,” the court heard she texted to Mr Milne.
“It’s apparent Mr Milne had an issue,” Ms Liptak said.
March 28 – the next day
Ms Peacock allegedly received another message from Mr Hocking and texted Mr Milne to say “that guy’s calling me again”.
That same day, the court heard she resigned from her job with her adult entertainment business – telling her boss she “can’t work there anymore”.
11.42pm – picked up to “get drinks”
Ms Peacock, wearing a pink dressing gown, was picked up by Mr Milne and allegedly told they going to go “get drinks” along with Mr House and his girlfriend – both of whom Ms Peacock had never met before.
March 29, 12.30am – an alleged knock on the door
Just after midnight, the car arrived at Mr Hocking’s property.
Ms Peacock – still wearing the pink dressing gown – was allegedly forced to knock on the front door.
“She was made to go to the front door to get Mr Hocking to come out and apologise to Mr Milne,” Ms Liptak said.
“She had no intention to do anything to Mr Hocking.”
When a woman answered the door, it’s alleged the group said they were looking for Mr Hocking – who, seconds later, came to the front of the house.
“He comes to the door and they chase him down the hallway into the kitchen or the laundry,” a police prosecutor previously alleged.
“He arms himself with a knife and he is attacked by three other co-accused and the female in the dressing gown is filming it on her phone.”
The court heard the woman who first opened the door managed to “barricade” herself in a bedroom.
12.45am – police arrive, getaway car captured on CCTV
Emergency services rushed to the Columba St property about 12.45am after being alerted.
There, they found Mr Hocking suffering stab wounds and needing urgent medical care.
CCTV from the front of the house allegedly captured a Mazda 3 arriving at the address at the time of the offence.
While police were at the property, it’s alleged the Mazda was seen on traffic management cameras driving along the Southern Expressway toward Flinders Medical Centre.
Victim and accused arrive at same hospital, separately
CCTV from the hospital allegedly captured the Mazda dropping off two passengers – Ms Peacock, identified by her dressing gown, and her co-accused Mr Milne.
Mr Milne appeared in court last month in a bedside hearing after undergoing surgery for lacerations to his head and thigh sustained during the alleged attack.
He is yet to enter any pleas to aggravated serious criminal trespass, attempted murder and aggravated cause harm with intent.
Last month, Mr Hocking was “still in hospital” due to life-threatening injuries, but the court heard he had since stabilised. He was allegedly stabbed in the back during the attack and suffered a perforated lung.
Chilling text messages reveal alleged plan
Upon Ms Peacock’s arrest, police seized her phone and allegedly found text messages between the group.
It’s alleged a text message from Mr Milne discussed “getting” Mr Hocking.
The court also heard a message said “we’re going in now”.
“Messages on Ms Peacock’s phone between her and Mr Milne indicate she was collected by him around about 12am on March 29,” a police prosecutor alleged at her first appearance.
“Messages immediately received before that one indicate he was picking her up ‘to whack’.”
Suspect on the run for nearly a month
Following the alleged attack, Mr House went into hiding, and was on the run from police for nearly a month.
Late last month, he was arrested after police received a tip-off he was hiding inside a Morphett Vale home.
Patrols and detectives quickly searched the house where they located the 27-year-old inside.
May 5 – massive bail win for Ms Peacock
Earlier this week, Justice Gray granted Ms Peacock’s application and released her on home detention bail.
The court heard Ms Peacock found out she was eight weeks pregnant while in custody on remand.
Justice Gray prohibited Ms Peacock from contacting her co-accused – either directly or indirectly – but did allow Ms Peacock to communicate with Mr Milne, with approval from her supervising officer, to give him updates on her pregnancy.
Without formally entering any pleas, Ms Peacock has “contested” charges of aggravated serious criminal trespass and attempted murder.
What next?
Mr Milne was denied bail by Magistrate Kylie Schulz who said there was a need to protect the alleged victim, Mr Hocking, and the wider community.
Mr House, who faced court last month, made no application for bail and was remanded in custody.
Both men are yet to enter any pleas to aggravated serious criminal trespass and attempted murder, while Mr Milne is also charged with aggravated cause harm with intent.
Ms Peacock was granted home detention bail to reside with a family friend “like an aunty to her” at a property in Magill.
All three accused will face the Adelaide Magistrates Court in July.
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