Robert Noel Rogers committed to Supreme Court for trial over murder charge

A Sunshine Coast man will face a murder trial as new details about the alleged stabbing over a drug debt were aired by a key witness.

Police investigating after a man (not pictured) was allegedly murdered during a 'violent altercation' in Nambour on August 16.

A man has recounted how he held his bleeding and dying friend in his arms moments after he was allegedly stabbed trying to collect money from the accused murderer.

Robert Noel Rogers appeared in the dock at Maroochydore Magistrates Court as two witnesses were cross-examined by defence barrister Jacob Robson.

Mr Rogers was charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed Raymond Scopelitis on August 16, 2021 at a unit complex at Nambour.

Police prosecutor Rebecca Lambert called the first witness to court, who told his account of how he had met with the alleged victim about 6.30pm the day of the alleged murder.

The witness said he had travelled to Lake Weyba to pick up his mother’s car and Mr Scopelitis had requested a lift to Nambour.

The court heard the pair had driven around, had a few drinks and stopped to smoke meth on a few occasions.

The man told the court Mr Scopelitis then directed him to Mr Rogers’ home in Nambour, saying Mr Rogers owed him $500 for drugs.

Mr Robson asked the witness if the alleged victim had said they would “cruise through” and “pick up some coin” which the witness confirmed to be true.

He recounted the pair pulled up at Mr Rogers’ unit complex and Mr Scopelitis had walked up the porch stairs and banged on the metal screen door.

The witness said he stood about 5m away from the bottom of the stairs.

Police at the scene in Maud St, Nambour. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

He told the court he heard Mr Rogers remark Mr Scopelitis had “brought a f---ing weapon” with him.

It was at this moment the witness realised his friend was armed when he saw the “shimmer of the knife or blade” which he labelled as “out of character”.

The witness agreed when Mr Robson asked if the blade appeared to be a 40cm machete.

The court heard Mr Rogers and Mr Scopelitis had a scuffle down by the bottom of the stairs, and the witness saw the alleged victim fall and drop the knife.

The witness said he was aware his friend was injured but did not notice Mr Scopelitis was bleeding until they were standing on the road by the car.

Mr Scopelitis had said to his friend “fair game, he got me this time” and the pair “had a laugh,” the court heard.

The alleged victim had stopped and told the man he may need an ambulance and the witness realised Mr Scopelitis was in significant danger.

The man told police in his witness statement he had “never seen blood like that before.”

Mr Scopelitis told the witness he “f---ed up” before he collapsed and the man called triple-0, the court heard.

The man sat with Mr Scopelitis in his arms as he bled.

“It felt like hours but it might have been a few minutes,” he said.

Police have launched a murder investigation after a man has died from a suspected stabbing in Maud Street, Nambour on August 16. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

The witness said Mr Scopelitis told him he was “really sorry.”

When he saw the ambulance lights in the distance, the man laid his friend down and told him he would be in good hands.

The court heard the man left before paramedics arrived as he had “freaked” out and felt distraught about his friend dying.

The witness said he drove and had stopped to clear his thoughts and vomited a few times.

After his evidence concluded, Senior Constable Lambert brought in the man’s mother, who told the court his son had come home about 5am on August 17.

After the woman stepped down from the witness box, Magistrate Rod Madsen committed the matter to the Supreme Court in Brisbane for trial on a date yet to be decided.

Originally published as Robert Noel Rogers committed to Supreme Court for trial over murder charge