Lesser plea negotiations underway for Townsville man Chris Hughes facing murder charge

Lawyers representing the man accused of killing Townsville woman Jennifer Board are trying to negotiate a plea deal with their client.

Lawyers representing the man charged with killing Townsville woman Jennifer Board are fighting to have his murder charge downgraded.

Christopher Michael Hughes is currently facing one count of murder and one of unlicensed driving over the 2021 death of aspiring police officer Jennifer Board, 22.

Police allege Hughes was chasing a stolen car, allegedly driven by Gregory Clubb, before he lost control of his vehicle.

Hughes’ car struck Ms Board who was riding her motorcycle in the opposite direction on Ross River Road.

She died at the scene.

Chris Hughes is charged over the alleged murder of Jennifer Board who was killed in a crash in February, 2021.

In Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, a lawyer representing Hughes told Magistrate Richard Lehmann that negotiations with the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were underway.

“The situation at the moment is there are negotiations ongoing with the DPP in relation to a plea to a lesser charge,” they said.

An adjournment was sought for negotiations to continue.

The update was not objected to by the prosecution.

At a previous mention of Hughes’ matter in May it was indicated that his legal team had sent a submission to the DPP in which they were seeking to expedite his case to a higher court, without the need for a committal.

Also in May this year, Clubb’s charge of dangerous operation of a vehicle was upgraded to one of manslaughter.

Hughes was remanded in custody.

His case will return to court in October.

Originally published as Lesser plea negotiations underway for Townsville man Chris Hughes facing murder charge