Aaron John Leslie Bunt, William John Currey, Debbie Jane Richards back before Toowoomba court for alleged murder

None of the trio has as yet been called upon to enter pleas to their charges but two are held in custody. See the latest here.

Three people charged in relation to the alleged murder of a 53-year-old man at a Ruthven St house have had their respective matters returned to the Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, and William John Currey, 32, have each been charged with murder arising from the death of Len Andrew Hegarty, whose body was found inside a North Toowoomba house in the lead-up to Christmas 2021.

Debbie Jane Richards, 33, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder relating to Mr Hegarty’s death.

None of the three were required to be in court for the mention of their respective matters on Thursday and none have as yet been called upon to enter pleas to their charges.

Police claim Mr Hegarty died of injuries sustained in an alleged assault at the home in the days prior to his death.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt (left) and William John Currey have been charged with the murder of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty, while Debbie Jane Richards has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder and one count of fraud.

Mr Bunt and Mr Currey have been held in custody since their arrest in January 2022 while Ms Richards remains on Supreme Court bail.

Solicitor Sarah MacDonald, of MacDonald Law, for Mr Bunt told the court on Thursday that counsel had been briefed in the matter and they were awaiting a response from the police prosecution as to a request for the cross-examination of one witness at a pre-trial committal hearing.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kinsley Weir told the court the officer responsible for that response was expected to provide that to the defence this week.

Currey’s solicitor Hamish Patterson said his client had been granted Legal Aid for a pre-trial cross examination hearing but they were awaiting further material.

Solicitor Nathan Bouchier, of Bouchier Khan Lawyers, for Ms Richards, told the court his client would be taking her case straight up to the higher court by way of registry committal.

Acting magistrate Kay Ryan therefore remanded Ms Richards on bail and adjourned her case back in the same court on June 22.

Mr Bunt and Mr Currey were remanded in custody with their respective cases to be mentioned again before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 29.