Nathan Gus Vaevae refuses to speak at committal hearing of murder accused Jonathan Wright

The 33-year-old, considered a key witness in the murder case, was jailed when he refused to answer questions in Toowoomba court.

A 33-year-old man considered a key witness to a Toowoomba murder case has been jailed after refusing to answer questions in court.

Nathan Gus Vaevae appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 16, in accordance with a summons to be available for cross examination at the committal hearing of murder accused 46-year-old Rockville man Jonathan Wright.

Mr Wright is accused of ramming a vehicle driven by Boronia Heights man Paul Sia on the down section of the Toowoomba Range highway on the afternoon of November 20, 2022.

Police claim Mr Vaevae was a passenger in Mr Sia’s vehicle at the time when it was alleged Mr Wright eventually ran Mr Sia’s vehicle off the road on the Toowoomba Connection Road at Withcott.

Police claim Mr Sia, 33, alighted from the vehicle after which it is alleged Mr Wright deliberately drove his vehicle at him, driving over him and leaving him with critical injuries.

Mr Sia was taken to a Brisbane hospital where he later died having not regained consciousness.

Rockville man Jonathan Wright (pictured) appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, January 16, for a committal hearing.

Mr Wright has not as yet been required to enter any pleas to charges of murder, two counts of endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

He has been held in custody since November 2022 and appeared in person in the dock for the scheduled committal hearing in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

However, when he was called to the witness stand and asked whether he would take an oath on the Bible or an affirmation, Mr Vaevae muttered “I’ve got nothing to say” and refused to answer any further questions from Magistrate Clare Kelly.

Mr Wright’s barrister Andrew Hoare KC told the court Mr Vaevae had not provided a police statement nor answered questions when spoken to by police at the hospital after the incident on November 20, 2022.

When Mr Vaevae continued to refuse to speak, Ms Kelly adjourned the court while initially duty lawyer Alysha Jacobsen tried to speak with Mr Vaevae, to no avail, and then Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Phil Stainton was asked to speak with the witness.

Both lawyers reported that Mr Vaevae would not speak with them after which Ms Kelly read the relevant legislation to Mr Vaevae and explained that she had the power to have him held in custody should he continue to refuse to speak.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson said he had spoken with Mr Vaevae’s father who had attended court and he had confirmed that his son had no issues with communication and that he spoke English fluently.

Ms Kelly committed Mr Vaevae to jail for three days, to be released at 5pm, Friday, January 19, but told him if in the meantime he consented to answer questions he could inform the court through watch house staff.

Ms Kelly adjourned the committal hearing until Thursday afternoon.