Covid-19 disrupts Nicholas Cross murder trial

A trial hearing evidence about the alleged murder of Maddison Parrott has been put on hold for at least a week as Covid-19 uncertainty hits the courtroom.

The COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt a trial into Maddison Parrott’s alleged murder yet again after a lawyer flagged he will spend a week in isolation.

Defence lawyer Glenn Casement informed the court on Wednesday morning that he was a close contact.

Although he has not currently tested positive for COVID-19, he will spend at least a week in isolation.

Due to the COVID-19 health orders within custody, accused Nicholas Cross could be spending up to 10 days in isolation, but this is yet to be determined.

Mr Cross is accused of shooting Ms Parrott in a glamping tent at the Geelong Showgrounds in early December 2018 after a heated argument.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Justice Rita Incerti said the prosecution was the only one left, but there were some concerns because he has been in close proximity to Mr Casement.

To the family and friends of Ms Parrott, Ms Incerti said, “here we go again.”

EARLIER: Alleged murder victim’s final minutes left unclear

Witnesses have delivered conflicting evidence in the trial of Nicholas Cross, leaving the details of an argument that led to Maddison Parrott's alleged murder unclear.

The two men who were with Ms Parrott in the hours before her death have provided inconsistent versions of events to the Supreme Court of Victoria about the circumstances leading up to the alleged shooting murder.

The court returned on Wednesday to hear from another witness in the murder trial of Nicholas Cross, who claimed he did not speak to the accused on the morning of December 4, 2018 despite another man saying he did.

When the two men and Ms Parrott arrived at the Geelong Showgrounds around 8am that morning, the new witness said that he only exited the vehicle they arrived in to relocate to the front passenger seat.

However, the other man said on Tuesday that the witness and Ms Parrott “had a discussion” with Mr Cross that lasted about 10 minutes.

Maddison Parrott, whose body was found in burnt-out tent at Geelong Showgrounds

The conflicting evidence means there is not yet an account of what was said during the conversation Ms Parrott had with Mr Cross before they entered the tent or any evidence on what topic escalated the alleged fatal argument.

During his examination, the witness said he heard a “heated discussion” involving Ms Parrott but did not hear what was said and did not recognise the male voice.

When Ms Parrott returned to the car for a brief moment before the gunshot, the witness said she appeared angry but did not tell him what was wrong.

On Tuesday, the other man told prosecution he also noticed Ms Parrott was angry but later walked this back during cross-examination, telling defence lawyer Glenn Casement that he did not notice any frustration while she was in his car.

In another mixed version of events, the witness said that at no time did Ms Parrott or any other person look at or try on clothes. On Tuesday, the other man said Ms Parrott had shown jackets to Mr Cross.

Mr Casement questioned the witness on whether he owed a “drug debt” to someone who was allegedly threatening his girlfriend. The witness denied this and denied that he was introduced to Mr Cross at the tent.

Mr Casement also questioned whether the witness had told Mr Cross that he had knowledge of the accused owning a gun and asked whether he could borrow one “for the right price”. The witness denied this happened.

Later on Wednesday, the Geelong Showgrounds caretaker confirmed that another witness who was in the tent during the alleged murder had paid for an additional night shortly after the gunshot was said to have occurred.

The tent was discovered engulfed in flames sometime after midnight and police later discovered Ms Parrott’s body in the scorched remains.

Originally published as Covid-19 disrupts Nicholas Cross murder trial