Update in alleged murder case of teacher David Thornton

The man charged with the murder of a beloved Brisbane teacher, whose body was found buried in a freezer in a suburban backyard, has faced court.

Almost three years since the body of Goodna maths and science teacher David Thornton was found, the murder case is still before the Ipswich Magistrates Court.

On April 1, 2019, the retired Bremer High School teacher’s body was found inside a freezer buried in his Parker St backyard, after his family reported him missing in March.

The man alleged to have murdered the 58-year-old, Bobby Andrew Weaver, was a long-time neighbour of the man.

David Thornton 58yrs old was last seen between the end of January and the afternoon of February 22 in the North Ipswich and Goodna areas.

Since being extradited to Queensland from Byron Bay in April 2019 Mr Weaver has been remanded in custody charged with 15 offences.

The 26-year-old’s case was mentioned at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday, February 23.

The court heard there would be further delays to proceedings as the man’s new legal counsel was in the process of requesting information about witnesses from police prosecutions.

In September 2021, Mr Weaver’s legal team changed hands to Legal Aid Queensland who were given six weeks to consider the large brief of material.

Today, a Legal Aid representative told the court they needed more time to work out which, if any, witnesses they would to cross-examine, based on information they had not yet requested from the DPP.

“We can achieve a lot if given an adjournment of five to six weeks - I know that sounds like a lot but there could be a lot of backwards and forwards (with the DPP),” the Legal Aid representative said.

Bobby Andrew Weaver enters the Ipswich watch house after being arrested for the murder of former high school teacher David Thornton, 58. Picture: Cordell Richardson.

Magistrate David Shepherd expressed frustration in the delay but noted the man’s legal representation wasn’t at fault.

“I appreciate you are just coming into the matter... and now picking up the slack that everybody else hasn’t addressed.

“It’s obviously in the defendant’s interest to have the matters resolved as quickly as possible.”

The matter will need to be finalised in the Supreme Court although it will next be mentioned at Ipswich on April 6, 2022.

Mr Weaver’s full list of charges are as follows; murder, misconduct with a corpse, fraud, unlawful possession of weapons category ABM - a Rimfire rifle, stealing, entering premises with intent, receiving tainted property, stealing a firearm or ammunition, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Mr Weaver was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Update in alleged murder case of teacher David Thornton