Benjamin Charles Johnson: Police allege accused man made threat before Jake Opacic death in crash

Police claim a man accused of killing an NRL star’s brother in the Gold Coast hinterland threatened him moments before a fatal motorbike crash. LATEST >>>

A man accused of murdering the brother of National Rugby League star Tom Opacic was heard threatening to “run him off his bike” because he “stole my girlfriend” and “rubbed it in my face”, police will allege.

Jake Opacic, 28, died in a motorbike crash near the Numinbah Correctional Centre in the Gold Coast Hinterland about 10am on Friday after an alleged verbal stoush near the prison farm.

Police will allege that moments before Opacic’s crash Benjamin Charles Johnson was heard telling his ex-partner: “I’m gonna run him off his bike.”

“Jake stole my girlfriend, he rubbed it in my face, I’ll f***ing kill him.”

Johnson was a passenger in the car; Steven Dale Latter was the driver, police allege.

A bumper of the Toyota Camry they were driving was allegedly found at the scene.

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NRL player Tom Opacic with his brother Jake (inset) who died last week. Photo: News Corp

Johnson, from Narangba, has been charged with murder, failing to stop, driving without a licence and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Latter, 28, has been charged with murder.

Police allege Johnson and Latter went to the prison in the Toyota Camry to pick up Johnson’s former partner, Rheannon Rowe.

Ms Rowe was being met by her current partner Mr Opacic and her family.

Police will allege that when they left Johnson, 29, and Latter parked the car on Nerang-Murwillumbah Road with the bonnet up and when Mr Opacic, who was on a motorbike, and Ms Rowe’s family stopped to help an argument broke out.

Benjamin Charles Johnson. Picture: Facebook.

It is alleged during this time Ms Rowe stopped Johnson from approaching Mr Opacic.

Johnson allegedly said: “I’m going to kill him”.

He also allegedly threatened to run him off his bike.

Latter allegedly got into the driver’s seat. It is alleged the pair accelerated after Mr Opacic who was on his motorbike.

Ms Rowe’s family allegedly saw Johnson and Latter returning towards them, with their lights flashing.

Police will allege Johnson said: “He has come off his bike, we didn’t do anything.”

Witnesses allegedly saw Johnson smiling.

The pair appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday morning. Neither applied for bail and their matters were adjourned to August 3.

Police roadblock at Numinbah Valley. Picture: Jeremy Price.

Latter’s lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Lawyers, said outside of court the only witnesses to the crash were Latter and Johnson.

“It is unclear at this stage what the allegation is,” he said.

“From the material that I have been provided it would seem that the only two witnesses are the defendants and some vehicle material that was found at the scene.”

He said Latter would be contesting the charges.

Earlier in court, Johnson had appeared to mouth “I love you” and gesture to a woman in the back of the courtroom.

Johnson made a gesture like cradling a baby towards the woman and mouthed “I love you” while pointing first to himself and then to the woman.

The court was told the brief of evidence “was not going to be an easy one to compile”.