Bobby Medcraft murder trial latest: Morrison, MacDonald ‘liars’
As the trial of five defendants accused of murdering young Burnie dad Bobby Medcraft enters what’s likely to be its final week, a barrister has told the jury two Crown witnesses are liars.
Tasmania
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The two friends of young Burnie dad Bobby Medcraft, 23, who were present at the showdown which ended in Mr Medcraft’s death, are both “liars” and one likely perjured himself, the barrister representing the man who wielded the sword has told the jury.
Mr Medcraft died of blood loss on the morning of March 29, 2020, outside a Ritchie Ave, Downlands residence after he was struck to the leg by a sword wielded by Shorewell Park man Cody Christopher Shane Sheehan, 33.
Mr Sheehan and his four co-accused, Geoffrey James Deverell, 37, Kelsey Maree Ford, 24, her brother Lucas Shane Ford, 31, Michael William Hanlon, 54, have all pleaded not guilty to Mr Medcraft’s murder.
Their trial in Launceston Supreme Court is entering its final days.
On Tuesday – Monday was a public holiday in northern Tasmania – barrister Greg Richardson, representing Mr Sheehan, told the jury two witnesses, Mr Medcraft’s friends Kayden Morrisson and Jake MacDonald, both of whom were present at the final showdown between the parties, were “liars”.
This was crucial, Mr Richardson submitted, as the Crown’s case of what happened at Ritchie Ave was “entirely dependant” on the pair’s account.
Mr Richardson labelled Mr MacDonald a “thief, perjurer... (and a) liar”.
As evidence for the claim, he pointed to Mr MacDonald’s contemporaneous police interviews and evidence in the trial. He said Mr MacDonald minimised his violent involvement in the Ritchie Ave melee and conveniently neglected to admit his role in a burglary at Mr Ford’s residence in the hours prior to the final showdown.
Mr Richardson told the jury Mr MacDonald texted fourth friend, Luke Buckley, the morning after to say he was “smashing” the defendants at Ritchie Ave – he denied to police at the time throwing any punches.
“He says he’s going to smoke, smash people, bury Lucas Ford, who as far as he knew was only one person on the other side (of the warring groups). He is a liar on whom the prosecution has based their entire case,” Mr Richardson said.
Mr Morrisson’s contemporaneous account to police was also vastly at odds with his evidence in the trial, Mr Richardson suggested.
He said Mr Morrisson failed to tell police he went to Mr Buckley’s West Ulverstone house to retrieve weapons – a large knife and a “Nordic battle axe” – before the four men attempted to seek out Mr Ford and assault him.
“He is a person not to be believed. He is a person prepared to lie to protect himself and his mates. He has a guilty conscience about (Mr Buckley’s) weapons,” Mr Richardson said.
It is not suggested the witnesses have been charged with any wrongdoing.
Mr Richardson argued on Thursday and again on Tuesday that his client acted in self-defence.
Mr Richardson is the last of five defence counsel to provide his closing statement.
The Crown gave its closing remarks last week.
Justice Robert Pearce will address the jury this week prior to their entering deliberations.
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