Bobby Medcraft murder trial: Cody Sheehan describes cutting victim

“I was scared”: A tearful Tasmanian man accused of murdering a young Burnie dad, alongside four others, has told the jury in his trial of grabbing a sword and cutting into the leg of the deceased.

The Ritchie Ave, Downlands house outside which South Burnie man Bobby William Medcraft, 23, was allegedly murdered. Picture: Google Street View

A Tasmanian father-of-four has broken down while describing to a jury the moment he swung his sword into the legs of a young Burnie dad, severing his hamstring and artery, which caused him to bleed to death.

Shorewell Park man Cody Christopher Shane Sheehan, 33, is one of five people accused of murdering South Burnie man Bobby William Medcraft, 23, on the morning of March 29, 2020, outside a Ritchie Ave, Downlands address.

An emotional Mr Sheehan gave evidence in Launceston Supreme Court on Friday.

The other four defendants charged are Geoffrey James Deverell, 37, Kelsey Maree Ford, 24, her brother Lucas Shane Ford, 31, Michael William Hanlon, 54. All have pleaded not guilty.

Mr Sheehan told the jury he was in bed when the four other defendants arrived at his house in the early hours of March 29, requesting he bring a cricket bat. He said he also picked up the sword at this time, but denied that he alerted the other defendants it was in his possession.

Alleged Burnie murder victim Bobby William Medcraft, 23, pictured with his young son. Picture: Facebook

After a car chase through the streets of Burnie, which ended outside 4 Ritchie Ave – Mr Sheehan alleged in his police interview it was in fact the vehicle containing Mr Medcraft chasing his car – he said he initially waited in the vehicle while Mr Deverell, Mr Hanlon and Mr Ford got out of the car.

He said he heard broken glass and Mr Ford yelling he’d been stabbed.

Mr Sheehan told the jury he grabbed the sword and walked over to where Mr Ford was standing.

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“Bobby come [sic] from the left side of me straight across, that’s when I swung the knife backhanded across his legs, to stop him from stabbing me. I was scared,” Mr Sheehan said.

“(I struck him) only once, he fell to the ground, face first.”

It is the Crown’s case that Mr Medcraft was already lying face down, prone, in the garden when Mr Sheehan struck him with the sword.

Mr Medcraft’s friend Jake MacDonald, who was also present, previously gave evidence that Mr Ford was on top of the deceased, punching him, while Mr Hanlon kicked at Mr Medcraft’s head, when Mr Sheehan approached and struck at Mr Medcraft’s legs in a “sweeping motion”.

Mr Sheehan told the court he was under duress during his police interview on the night of March 29, and hadn’t slept in 48 hours.

Alleged Burnie murder victim Bobby William Medcraft, 23, pictured with his young son. Picture: Facebook

“They made me feel like I had to answer questions,” Mr Sheehan said.

He said he was wracked with “dreams” of blood and being stabbed in the months after Mr Medcraft’s death.

He said he didn’t even realise he had struck Mr Medcraft with the sword, but the realisation he did came to him in a “dream”.

“I had no memory of actually doing it, I remember now. The dreams I was having, some was real, some wasn’t real.”

Crown prosecutor Jack Shapiro challenged Mr Sheehan’s evidence.

He pointed out Mr Sheehan told police he stayed in the car at Ritchie Ave until after attending officers had already arrived and that Mr Medcraft’s party was following them, not vice versa.

“You told a pack of deliberate lies,” Mr Shapiro suggested. Mr Sheehan denied this.

The trial continues.