Benjamin Stiler pleads not guilty to murder of Duwayne Johnson at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court
A Wodonga man has faced court after the fatal shooting of an Albury father-of-four.
Albury Wodonga
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A 25-year-old Wodonga man has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Albury father-of-four Duwayne Johnson.
Benjamin Stiler faced the Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via video link after being charged with one count of murder.
In the short hearing Stiler was asked by Magistrate Peter Dunn if he pleaded guilty or not guilty to the charges before him, to which he said: “Not guilty your honour”.
He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court and will appear for a directions hearing on October 27.
A public appeal was launched earlier this year in search of Mr Johnson before investigators discovered he was allegedly shot at close range, with a shotgun, and run over on January 16.
Investigators were called to a Woodland St home about 3am where they found Mr Johnson fatally injured on the street.
Stiler was arrested at an Ascot Vale service station about 9pm, January 21.
The five-day search for Stiler was taxing on Mr Johnson’s family who urged the person involved to “hand themselves in”.
The doting young dad left behind four children, one who was just four months old at the time of his death.
Mr Johnson’s older brother, Clancy Charles said his family and friends would “never get over” his death and were in “a lot of pain”.
No application for bail was made and Stiler remains in custody.