Tara’s car used in murder, say police

THE tragic case of Tara Brown, they young mum beaten to death in her own car, just got even murkier than it already was.

Tara Brown murdered by her partner Lionel Patea in a domestic violence on the Gold Coast

THE same car Tara Brown lay trapped in while allegedly being beaten to death was borrowed by her accused killer just two months earlier to commit a murder, police claim.

Lionel Patea used Ms Brown’s Mazda 2 on July 6 to drive to a Gold Coast Hinterland property where he allegedly met cousin Aaron Crawford and they allegedly killed 37-year-old Greg Dufty over a drug debt.

On September 8, he allegedly rammed the Mazda in a suburban Gold Coast street, before forcing it off the road and bashing the 24-year-old mother of his child as she lay inside.

Tara Brown was allegedly murdered by Lionel Patea on the Gold Coast.

It is one of a number of revelations contained in documents lodged at the Brisbane Supreme Court last week when Crawford, 28, was denied bail.

Police interviewed Crawford within days of Mr Dufty being reported missing on July 10, although he and former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms Patea were not arrested and charged until November 2.

By that time Patea was already in jail charged with murdering Ms Brown, and an internal police investigation was underway into the advice officers gave the young mother a week before her death.

According to the court documents, a secret Crime and Corruption Commission hearing was held on September 21 and 22 and a witness said Crawford, Patea, co-accused Liam Bliss and two other men bashed Mr Dufty to death.

Bliss allegedly told police when he was arrested late last month that Patea offered to pay him $200 to assist.

Police and SES search for the weapon used to kill Greg Dufty at Kopps Rd, Oxenford. Picture: David Clark

“Bliss stated that he drove a dark Mazda 2 hatchback which belonged to the partner of L. Patea,” the document says. “At the time of leaving the vehicle L Patea said: ‘Might have to smoke this c---, so just watch over me’.”

It is alleged Mr Dufty was helping Crawford ferry about $70,000 worth of cannabis between northern NSW and Darwin every fortnight, but landed in hot water when he stole drugs to pay another debt.

Greg Dufty.

Crawford allegedly told police on July 16 he had been with Mr Dufty 10 days earlier and gave them the Mt Nathan location, but said he did not kill him.

According to the police objection to bail, when Crawford was arrested almost four months later he tried to point the finger at his cousin, stating: “Patea was the main person, he should put his hand up for it.” Crawford’s father Russell Crawford has been a police detective in NZ for 22 years and is the cousin of singer Ricki-Lee Coulter’s mother, Loretta Sheerin.

Originally published as Tara’s car used in murder, say police