Jesse James Clarke in court for witness retaliation

Just days after being released on parole, an associate of the convicted “esky” killer delivered a threatening letter on his former prison mate’s behalf to a trial witness.

Jesse James Clarke was sentenced for helping convicted killer Stephen Armitage deliver a threatening letter to a witness.

A 28-year-old man who spent time in prison with the convicted “Esky” killer of a Gold Coast drug dealer helped his “acquaintance” send a threatening letter to a witness in the murder trial, a court heard.

Jesse James Clarke pleaded guilty on June 8, 2023 in Maroochydore District Court to one count of witness retaliation.

His co-accused, Stephen John Armitage has not entered pleas to the charge and most recently appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court for an application to cross-examine witnesses.

Armitage was one of three men convicted of the 2014 manslaughter of Shaun Barker, who was kept in a fishing esky by him, Matthew Leslie Armitage, and William Francis Dean.

His charred remains were found scattered in the Toolara Forestry near Gympie in 2014 and the three men were jailed in 2018.

Stephen John Armitage, who along with his son Matthew Leslie Armitage and William Francis Dean were convicted of manslaughter for the death of Shaun Barker, whose body was dumped near Gympie.

Their convictions were downgraded from murder to manslaughter in an appeal in 2019.

The court heard on June 8 that Clarke had “become acquaintanced” with Armitage during their time in a correctional centre.

Clarke had received a total of five years and eight months’ prison for various offences including possessing 22.48g of pure meth for commercial and personal use in 2021.

He was released on parole on May 4, 2022 and three days later, delivered a letter to a crown witness in Armitage’s trial allegedly on his behalf.

Crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said Clarke attended the witness’s home to hand him a letter and told him it was from Armitage.

Judge Michael Byrne told the court the letter contained threats from Armitage he would make a podcast of “what really happened and how police really got their evidence” and falsely accused the witness of testifying due to threats.

Armitage also threatened he would make false claims of the witness committing a sexual offence.

The letter suggested the witness should see a solicitor.

“You finished the conversation with the words ‘tell the truth’,” Judge Byrne said

The court heard Clarke received a phone call from Armitage nine days later, who said the witness “needs some persuasion” and had to be told “what’s going to f---ing happen to him”.

Clarke consequentially visited the man’s home again to tell him Armitage would have to serve more time if he did not change his evidence and handed him a solicitor’s phone number.

Defence barrister Bri McKenzie said Clarke “aided in the commission of the offence” but Judge Byrne did not accept her submission, saying the crime “couldn’t have happened without him (Clarke)” and he was therefore a principal offender.

Clarke’s parole was suspended on May 26, 2022 and has been in custody since.

Judge Byrne sentenced him to 12 months’ prison wholly suspended for two years and Clarke returned to custody due to his suspended parole.

His 378 days in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.

Originally published as Jesse James Clarke in court for witness retaliation