Toni Leanne Peacock and Cooper Lindsay Millard to stand trial for murder

A personal trainer who had just accepted that his relationship was “forever” over, was then allegedly murdered by the very same woman and her new man, a court has heard.

A couple charged with the murder of Pacific Haven personal trainer Mark Carson have been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.

Toni Leanne Peacock and Cooper Lindsay Millard both appeared before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a committal hearing, during which several witnesses were cross examined.

Police allege Ms Peacock, Mr Carson’s 42-year-old former partner, and her new partner Mr Millard, 44, went to the home of the volunteer firefighter on the morning of April 3, 2021, and an altercation took place.

Officers were called to the scene and found Mr Carson, 58, dead.

The couple was charged with murder about six weeks later and have been in custody on remand since then.

On Wednesday, they sat in the dock together as witnesses gave their testimony.

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Toni Leanne Peacock with Cooper Lindsay Millard. They stand accused of murdering Pacific Haven's Mark Carson.

Among those who testified were Nicholas Jewell, Shona Kelly, Linda Carsley and David Sheehan.

Ms Carsley spoke of Mr Carson’s mental health challenges, especially after his relationship with Ms Peacock deteriorated.

Mr Millard’s defence barrister Ed Whitten asked Ms Carsley if he had spoken to her about his relationship issues with Ms Peacock.

She said that a few months before his death, Mr Carson had confided in her about a suicide attempt and seeing a psychiatrist after the incident.

In March 2021, Mr Carson told Ms Carsley he thought he would be getting back together with Ms Peacock and he was “really happy”.

But later that month when it became apparent that they would not be getting back together, he became upset, she said.

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“He knew he’d lost her forever I think, at that point.”

After that, Mr Carson had planned a trip to Cairns, Ms Carsley said, with plans to “leave it, forget it and move on”.

Also during the hearing, Mr Jewell testified about a confrontation with Mr Carson over Ms Peacock.

Alleged murder victim Mark Carson.

He said he had not had a romantic relationship with her but they had spent time “drinking, having fun, going to pubs”.

On one occasion, Mr Carson had come home to find the two drinking together and there had been an altercation in which Mr Carson had threatened him with nunchucks.

After hearing from the witnesses, Magistrate John Milburn committed the matter to the next sitting of Maryborough Supreme Court on a date to be fixed.

Mr Milburn asked Mr Millard and Ms Peacock if they wished to make any comment or enter any plea regarding the charges, but both declined.

There was no application for bail and both were remanded in custody.

Originally published as Toni Leanne Peacock and Cooper Lindsay Millard to stand trial for murder