Aaron John Leslie Bunt and William John Currey charged with murder of Len Andrew Hegarty

The two men are charged with murder arising from death of a 53-year-old man in December 2021. See the latest developments:

The respective cases against two Toowoomba men charged with murder have taken a step closer to finalisation after appearances before the city’s Magistrates Court.

Aaron John Leslie Bunt, 29, and William John Currey, 32, have each been charged with murder arising from the death of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty whose body was found inside a house on Ruthven St, North Toowoomba, on Christmas Eve 2021.

Police claim Mr Hegarty had been seriously assaulted and died as a result of the injuries sustained.

Both men have been remanded in custody since their arrest in January 2022 on the charge of murder and associated assault charges and neither was required to be in court when their cases were mentioned on Thursday.

Debbie Jane Richards who has been charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder arising from Mr Hegarty’s death has taken her case straight up to the higher court by way of registry committal.

She has not as yet been required to enter any plea to the charge and remains on bail.

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 of murder.

Solicitor Ryan McCullough, of MacDonald Law, for Mr Bunt, said barrister Steve Kissick was briefed in the case but an application for a committal hearing with cross examination had been declined by the prosecution.

Mr McCullough said he was therefore asking for a date for the court to hear and rule on the application for committal with cross examination.

Magistrate Louise Shephard therefore adjourned Mr Bunt’s case to September 11 when the court would hear that application but if unsuccessful a full hand up committal hearing would be done on that day, taking Mr Bunt’s case straight up to the higher court.

Mr Currey’s solicitor Michael Corbin told the court his client was also seeking a pre-trial committal hearing with cross examination of witnesses but he was also seeking further disclosure of material from the prosecution.

Mr Corbin said an application for further funding in Mr Currey’s case had been made to Legal Aid Queensland.

Ms Shephard remanded Mr Currey in custody and adjourned his case for mention back in the same court on July 13.