Teen accused of killing ex-AFL masseuse, handball coach has case pushed into new year
A teenager is accused of killing a former Australian handball coach, who was found dead with his hands bound and with a blindfold on.
The case against a man accused of killing an AFL team’s former massage therapist will drag on into 2024 following his latest appearance.
Patrik Weiss, 45, was found dead in his home in the northeastern Perth suburb of Lockridge on June 12.
The former West Coast Eagles soft tissue therapist was also the former coach of Australia’s men’s beach handball team.
Alexander Mark Sutton, 19, was charged over the murder of Mr Weiss and appeared briefly before Perth’s Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday via video link from Hakea Prison.
His lawyer, Katherine Dowling, asked for a 12 week adjournment as they were still awaiting the results of a report.
Prosecutor Sean Stocks told the court 16 weeks may be more appropriate, but the case was adjourned until February 7 for what the Magistrate described as a “health check” on the case, when a new date would be set.
The death of Mr Weiss, a father of two, prompted Western Australia Police to launch Operation Bulb.
Handball Australia released a statement in the days following Mr Weiss’ death, extending their “deepest sympathies to his young family and his parents at this heartbreaking time.”
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“We greatly appreciate and value all he has contributed to developing our players and our wider community and thank his family for having supported this,” read the statement.
“He will be very missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Nine News reported at the time Mr Weiss was found with severe injuries, with his hands bound, and was wearing a blindfold.