Killed Ipswich dad gave chase with shovel moments before fatal shot

A witness has recalled the moment an Ipswich dad was allegedly shot dead, detailing what happened in the lead-up to the shooting and saying he saw the gun in the accused killer’s lap.

Christopher Anderson was shot outside his home at Gailes.

A witness has recalled the moment an Ipswich dad was allegedly shot dead saying he saw the gun in the accused killer’s lap.

Larkin Dwayne Moffatt is on trial in Brisbane’s Supreme Court for the alleged murder of Chris Anderson at Gailes on July 10 2021.

Moffatt has pleaded not guilty to murder and enter premises with intent whilst armed in company

The court has heard the defendant, his brother Markiss Graham Moffatt-Cleary, Aidan Eden Pascoe and Shaun Jason Birt were chased out of the family home by Mr Anderson moments before he was fatally shot once in the heart.

Pascoe gave evidence on Tuesday saying his plan that day was to pick up Moffatt and go rob a drug dealer in Goondiwindi.

The family of Christopher Anderson. Picture: Nicola McNamara

However when he picked up Moffatt, he was also met by Birt and Moffatt-Cleary and the decision was made to go to Mr Anderson’s home to collect money from his then partner Felicity Torrens.

The court has heard Ms Torrens indirectly supplied some methamphetamine to Birt who was unhappy with the amount and wanted compensation.

Pascoe told the court there was no plan to rob Ms Torrens of drugs and none of the other men knew he had a .410 shotgun down his pants.

When they arrived at the Old Logan Rd residence of Mr Anderson, Pascoe said Moffatt told him he had a gun which he’d be leaving in the car.

Felicity Torrens, at Brisbane District and Supreme Court. Photo Steve Pohlner

CCTV has shown the four men approach Mr Anderson on his patio before he goes in to fetch Ms Torrens.

“ (Birt) was just saying old love owed him money and he was there to collect it and old mate said he would go see her about it,” Pascoe said.

He agreed everyone was calm at this point when asked by Moffatt’s barrister Victoria Trafford-Walker.

After about five minutes of waiting Pascoe claimed they just walked into the home without kicking the door in and were confronted by an “aggressive’ Ms Torrens holding a baseball bat who apparently refused to hand over any money.

“I said if you’re not going to pay what’s owed we’ll take everything and I took my gun out … I let a shot off,” he said.

Pascoe said he was aiming the shotgun downwards. Photos revealed the blast punctured the loungeroom wall into Mr Anderson’s son’s bedroom which was empty at the time.

Pascoe said he went into the kitchen and stole some drugs while everyone cleared out of the house with Mr Anderson giving chase.

The court has heard Mr Anderson picked up a shovel and was hitting the men along with their Commodore as they got into it.

Pasoe said Mr Anderson split his head open with the shovel and he nearly passed out before running to the front of the car.

“When I got to the front of the car was when I heard the shot,” Pascoe said.

Pascoe looked up and could see Mr Anderson and Moffatt, who was in the front passenger seat, involved in a struggle.

Lisa Conlon, the sister of Christopher Anderson, leaves the Brisbane Supreme Court. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“It looked like he was trying to get the gun off Larkin,” he told the jury.

Crown prosecutor Greg Cummings asked where the gun – a .22 – was located.

“It was in (Moffatt’s) lap,” Pascoe said.

“It was pointed at (Mr Anderson) but he wasn’t like holding the gun at him.”

Ms Trafford-Walker asked whether Mr Anderson “seemed out of control”.

“Well he was chasing people with guns with a shovel so yeah,” Pascoe said.

“And he’s wielding that shovel like a weapon?” Trafford-Walker asked

“Yeah,” Pascoe responded.

Under re-examination by Mr Cummings, Pascoe said he believed Mr Anderson was angry because they’d just been in his house.

The trial before Justice Lincoln Crowley continues.

Originally published as Killed Ipswich dad gave chase with shovel moments before fatal shot