Warrant issued for alleged witness in killing of Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Colac man, alleged to be a witness in relation to the fatal stabbing of Corio barber Jayme Sykes, after the man refused to front court.

Corio‘s Jayme “Chugs” Sykes was fatally stabbed on Little Malop St in October last year.

A magistrate has issued a warrant for the arrest of an alleged witness in relation to the fatal stabbing of Corio barber Jayme “Chugs” Sykes.

Two other witnesses, who had initially refused to speak to police, have now given statements, it can be revealed.

Mr Sykes was stabbed to death in the early hours of October 27 last year, on Little Malop St.

Following his death, Colac man James Farquhar was taken into custody and charged with a single count of murder.

Last month, the Geelong Advertiser reported the Office of Public Prosecution had made an application to compulsorily examine three alleged witnesses in relation to the fatal stabbing.

A compulsory examination is a court order compelling an individual to attend court to give evidence.

The court previously heard the men were associates of Mr Farquhar and the application was granted by magistrate Michelle Hodgson.

On Wednesday morning, prosecutor Nadia Kaddeche told the court one of the three men was in the process of providing a statement to police, while a second was uncontactable and had not appeared.

Barrister Sharon Kermath represented the third man – the only one to front court.

Ms Kermath told the court the man was “very nervous” and asked for time to speak to him.

The matter was stood down and, upon its resumption in the afternoon, the court heard he had provided a statement to police.

Magistrate John Lesser struck out the examination applications in relation to the two men, however the third alleged witness, a Colac man, had still refused to appear.

Ms Kaddeche told the court police had made contact with him, but he had refused to appear.

“He’s well aware of the consequences of not coming to court, but he’s not coming to court,” Ms Kaddeche said.

Following the warrant being heard, there was some brief discussion about how it impacted the timeline of Mr Farquhar’s case, given the matter is currently being fast-tracked.

Ms Kaddeche told the court the prosecution were on “time constraints”.

Mr Lesser suggested: “Get the informant to arrest him as soon as possible and get him before the court” and adjourned the application to a date to be fixed.

Mr Farquhar, who did not appear at Wednesday’s hearing, will reappear in court for a committal mention on May 6.

Originally published as Warrant issued for alleged witness in killing of Jayme ‘Chugs’ Sykes