Kylie Blackwood’s accused killer was free on parole, court hears
PAKENHAM mum Kylie Blackwood was allegedly butchered by a man set free in the community on parole, a court has heard.
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THE man accused of stabbing to death mum Kylie Blackwood in her own home had been free in the community after being released from jail on parole, a court has heard.
Mrs Blackwood was found dead in her McCaffery Rise home in Pakenham by her twin daughters, 11, at 3.40pm on August 1, 2013.
Scott Alan Murdoch, 40, of Morwell, has been charged over her murder and is facing a preliminary hearing at which a magistrate will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to order him to stand trial.
The revelations were aired in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court by Mr Murdoch’s mate Glen Scales, who told police he had dropped-off Mr Murdoch at a hire car business somewhere in Pakenham.
Police believe the alleged killer was getting about in a hire car when he carried out the shocking murder.
Mr Scales told the court his mate had been in at least two car crashes after being released from jail on parole.
“He’d been in jail and got out,” he told the court.
Although he could not recall exactly when his mate walked free from jail, he said he had been out on parole at the time Mrs Blackwood was murdered.
The Herald Sun is aware of the circumstances surrounding why Mr Murdoch was jailed, but is unable to reveal them due to legal reasons designed to ensure the alleged killer gets a “fair trial”.
The revelations came just a day after it was revealed Mr Murdoch had tried to get his ex-partner to falsify an alibi for him.
Mr Murdoch was the number one suspect in the horrific murder when police claim he asked the estranged mother of his two children for help.
“I need to ask you something, but you can’t go blabbering around with your big mouth,” he said.
Police claim his already suspicious ex-partner asked him flat out if he killed Mrs Blackwood.
He denied he had, but needed her to back his story up.
“No, but I need you to be an alibi for that day. I’ve been questioned,” he said.
Court documents revealed the question baffled the woman.
“Because I was doing armed burgs and I want you to say I had the kids that day and I met you at 4 o’clock to give the kids back,” he told her.
His ex refused the request.
A policewoman who created a digital image of the alleged killer was grilled by Mr Murdoch’s barrister Stewart Bayles today.
Veteran police officer Sgt Elizabeth Burke told Mr Bayles the young tiler who provided the details was 80 per cent sure the image released to the public was as he had remembered the man to look like.
It was his detailed eye witness account that eventually led to Mr Murdoch’s arrest.
The preliminary hearing continues.