Aaron John Leslie Bunt and William John Currey charged with murder and Debbie Jane Richards charged in relation to man’s death

The trio were charged after the death of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty who was found dead in a North Toowoomba home.

Further aspects of police allegations arising from the death of a 53-year-old man in a North Toowoomba house have been disclosed in a Toowoomba court.

Len Andrew Hegarty was found dead inside a Ruthven St home sometime on Christmas Eve 2021.

Police alleged Mr Hegarty had sustained serious injuries during an assault and charged two men, Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, of North Toowoomba, and Oakey man William John Currey, 32, with murder arising from Mr Hegarty’s death.

Debbie Jane Richards, 33, was initially charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder as she too had allegedly been at the house when police claim Mr Hegarty was allegedly assaulted.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt and William John Currey have been charged with the murder of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty, while Debbie Jane Richards has also been charged in relation to Mr Hegarty’s death.

However, Ms Richards’ charge has since been amended to manslaughter on charge one, and charge two accessory after the fact of murder or alternatively accessory after the fact to manslaughter or alternatively accessory after the fact to unlawful striking causing death.

During a mention of Ms Richards’ matters before the Toowoomba Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 7, Crown prosecutor Mr Cummings told the court Ms Richards’ manslaughter charge arose from her alleged failure to provide assistance to Mr Hegarty as he lay in bed.

The court heard Ms Richards’ case was delayed due to Mr Bunt and Mr Currey still waiting for a committal hearing on their respective charges.

Mr Cummings said it was alleged Mr Hegarty had been assaulted by Mr Bunt and Mr Currey and that Mr Hegarty was then put into a bed in his bedroom where he was found dead the next day.

It was the Crown’s submission that all three accused be tried together.

Toowoomba barrister David Jones KC

Ms Richards’ barrister David Jones KC said the charges against his client had changed significantly since she was first charged by police and that he was still waiting for the particulars relating to his client’s case from the Crown.

Mr Cummings said his office was still waiting for DNA results from blood stains in the bathroom at the scene and he said he would rather have those results before providing the particulars to the defence but he would try and progress the matter quickly.

Justice Martin Burns noted it had been two-and-a-half years since the alleged offence and that the case needed to be moved along.

Justice Burns adjourned Ms Richards case to the next callover of the Toowoomba Supreme Court on March 13.

None of the three accused has as yet been called upon to enter any pleas to their respective charges.