William John Currey, charged with bashing murder of Len Andrew Hegarty, has matter adjourned due to outstanding autopsy

A Toowoomba man accused of the bashing murder of 53-year-old Len Andrew Hegarty has had his charge adjourned, as the court revealed what is holding up the proceedings.

A Toowoomba man accused of the bashing murder of a 53-year-old who was found dead in a North Toowoomba home on Christmas Eve has had his matter adjourned after it was revealed in court that an autopsy was still not completed some nine months after the alleged crime.

William John Currey, 32, was not required to be in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday with his solicitor Kirstie Smith mentioning the matter.

Mr Currey, along with John Leslie Bunt, 29, were charged with the murder of Len Andrew Hegarty after his body was found in a Ruthven St, North Toowoomba, home on Christmas Eve, 2021.

It is alleged that Mr Hegarty was the victim of an assault at his home, and that he died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

William John Currey. 21/12/21

Mr Currey has not yet entered a plea to the charges, which include murder, wilful damage of police property, obstructing police and two counts of unlawfully using a motor vehicle.

In court on Wednesday Ms Smith revealed that a forensic report was still outstanding from the police brief of evidence she had been provided, and that the matter could not proceed before it was disclosed.

Police prosecutor Alister Windsor confirmed to the court that the statement of a forensic officer and their findings from the autopsy were still outstanding.

Magistrate Clare Kelly made a direction that the autopsy report would need to be provided to both prosecution and defence teams by September 30, and failing that the arresting officer would need to provide an affidavit to explain the reason for the delay.

The matter was adjourned to October 5, with Mr Currey remanded to remain in custody.