Murder accused Timothy Hunt used to ‘hoon’ near army base, court hears
A truckie accused of murdering a man over a $10,000 drug debt used to “hoon” behind the army base where he allegedly took his victim and cut his throat, a court has heard.
A truckie accused of murdering a man over a $10,000 drug debt used to “hoon” behind the Army base where he allegedly cut his victim’s throat, a court has heard.
Timothy Hunt has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of commercial fisherman Tony Rowe, but not guilty to Mr Rowe’s murder.
Mr Hunt’s trial has featured a string of witnesses brought into the NT Supreme Court to give evidence.
Among those who have testified is Mr Hunt’s former Tinder-date, Jazmine Shier, and Keith Waldock, who were both present on the night Mr Rowe died.
Both witnesses claim Mr Hunt used a Stanley knife to cut Mr Rowe’s throat after he had been savagely beaten by a roadside.
On Wednesday, Detective Senior Constable Steven Flynn took the stand.
The court heard Mr Flynn was the officer-in-charge for the bulk of the investigation into Mr Rowe’s disappearance and, in May 2023, conducted a recorded interview with Mr Hunt at the North Rockhampton Police Station in Queensland, which was played to the jury.
Mr Flynn was asked if Mr Hunt was familiar with Robertson Barracks – the establishment close to where Mr Rowe died.
“I’m a bit of a hoon man, obviously you can’t do burnouts and shit on the road,” he said.
“Sometimes it was nice to go and drive on the dirt and stuff.”
Mr Hunt was then asked who the girl was that accompanied him to Hibiscus Tavern on the night of May 28, 2022 – the night Mr Rowe died.
Mr Hunt told the detective she was his Tinder match.
“I picked her up (to) have a good drink,” he said.
“I thought I was going to get laid, but…”
Asked how long he had been seeing Ms Shier, he maintained it had been a short fling.
“I can’t remember her name,” he responded.
The interview turned to other matters pertaining to that evening, including the car he left the tavern in and the Palmerston address he would eventually arrive at later that night.
The trial continues on Thursday.
