Slade Murdok granted bail before allegedly murdering mother Wendy Sleeman

A man accused of murdering his mother had been granted bail on more than a dozen charges after telling a court his life was “on track”.

A Gold Coast man accused of murdering his mother was freed on bail facing more than a dozen charges only 15 months ago, after telling the Supreme Court how his life was “on track” and he never wanted to go back to jail after being bashed while behind bars on remand.

Slade Murdok was also previously ruled permanently unfit for trial on mental health grounds on more than two dozen serious charges, it can be revealed.

The 30-year-old was charged last week with the murder of his mother Wendy Sleeman, 61, on January 24.

Police allege Ms Sleeman was subjected to traumatic violence after walking into a well-planned ambush at her Elanora home, before being bundled into the boot of her own car and driven to a unit block in Brisbane where police found her body on Australia Day.

Murdok has also been charged with other offences including kidnapping, assault, stalking, and attempted arson after allegedly setting his mother’s house on fire.

His lawyer told reporters outside Brisbane Magistrates Court Murdok claimed he “has not had any participation or knowledge of this incident”.

Slade Murdok, previously known as Jamie Sleeman

Court documents obtained by The Sunday Mail reveal Murdok, then known by his birth name Jamie Christopher Sleeman, was granted bail in October 2021 after more than 180 days in custody on 13 charges, including evading and obstructing police and driving offences.

All charges, plus 13 more, were dismissed last March after Southport magistrate Kerry Magee found Murdok permanently unfit for trial on mental health grounds.

Murdok told the Supreme Court in his 2021 bail application that he had reconnected with his mother and that she had been “helping him a lot” to get his life back on track.

He also said he had found his time in jail while on remand “incredibly traumatising”, needed medical treatment for a prison assault and never wanted to repeat the experience.

In his bail application, Murdok said he had been diagnosed with autism as a child and with clinical depression as an adult.

He said that when he was charged with the 2019-20 offences he was homeless and it was a “tremendously stressful” period.

“I have found this period of incarceration extremely distressing,” he told the court in his plea for bail.

“I feel very vulnerable in the prison environment and I have been physically assaulted.”

Murdok said he missed a legal appointment in September 2021 “due to receiving medical treatment for injuries I sustained in prison”.

Police at the inner northern Brisbane unit block where Wendy Sleeman’s body was found. Picture: David Clark

“I certainly do not want to return to prison,” he said.

“I now have a great deal of support to help me keep my life on track. This time I have spent in custody is an experience I never want to repeat.”

Murdok’s then lawyer, Karla Ainsworth, told the court that her client had the support of his family, including his mother.

“Jamie informed me that he has recently reconnected with his family, and that she (Ms Sleeman) has been helping him a lot,” Ms Ainsworth said in court documents.

“He mentioned his mother has been supportive of finding him housing, contacting family and friends he can connect with if bail is granted and indicated his family are willing to assist with transport where possible.”

Ms Ainsworth said Murdok had been receiving treatment for ankle and shoulder injuries that had been “further aggravated during his time in custody”.

She said he had been seeing a psychiatrist and psychologist and planned to reconnect with the National Disability Insurance Scheme if given bail.

Justice Helen Bowskill granted Murdok bail on October 21, 2021, with conditions including a 9pm-5am curfew and an order that he obtain a mental health plan.

Wendy Sleeman

Originally published as Slade Murdok granted bail before allegedly murdering mother Wendy Sleeman