Jury to deliberate as trial against accused killer Kerry Lee Whiting draws to close

‘He was unhappy and was making threats,’ the court heard as the final pitch to the 12-person jury was made in a case alleging the murder of the accused ex-partner’s boyfriend.

Kerry Lee Whiting, 46, pleaded not guilty to an alleged double stabbing at 36 Prosser Forest Road at Ravenswood on November 25, 2021, where prosecutors allege he murdered Adrian Paul Mayne, 36, and attempted to murder Natalie Joyce Harris, 36. Picture: Google

After three weeks of evidence and arguments, the jury must now determine whether Kerry Lee Whiting is guilty of stabbing his former partner and killing her new lover while they lay in bed.

Mr Whiting, 46, pleaded not guilty to an alleged double stabbing at 36 Prosser Forest Road at Ravenswood on November 25, 2021, where prosecutors alleged he murdered Adrian Paul Mayne, 36, and attempted to murder Natalie Joyce Harris, 36.

On Monday, Mr Whiting appeared in the Launceston Supreme Court to stand trial before Chief Justice Tamara Jago, as Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates SC delivered his closing statement.

Police are searching for Kerry Whiting following a murder in Ravenswood. Picture: Tasmania Police.

Mr Coates identified four factors that pointed to Mr Whiting’s alleged guilt – his knowledge of the layout of Ms Harris’ house, a strong motive and lying about said motive, and that he had the opportunity to commit the offence.

“Whoever attacked Mr Mayne and Ms Harris had to know where the bedroom was, and they had to have a strong reason to have worked themselves into such a frenzy that they struck them 47 times with a knife, and the overwhelming evidence shows the accused did have,” Mr Coates said.

“He was unhappy and was making threats, which suggests why the murder and attempted murder took place.

“Mr Whiting then took to the stand and lied about his motive, denying that he made the threats.

“And the accused had the opportunity to commit the offence, having left his property on the morning of the attack and then went into hiding, which overwhelmingly suggests his guilt.”

In his closing statement delivered on Friday, criminal defence lawyer Greg Melick said there was no forensic evidence to place Mr Whiting at the Ravenswood home.

He said Mr Whiting’s innocence was further compounded by inconsistencies between eyewitness accounts.

He said the witnesses were “mistaken about various things that happened” because they had preconceived ideas that their attacker was Whiting after an alleged home invasion a week before the attack.

Mr Coates countered the defence’s argument, saying while he accepted that it was true that there was no forensic evidence linking Mr Whiting to the scene, it was because none could be collected.

“There is no forensic evidence linking any offenders as the blood of the deceased and Ms Harris swamped the scene,” Mr Coates said.

“This is the real world, not CSI. Forensic evidence isn’t always able to be collected.”

Justice Jago said for the jury to find Mr Whiting guilty of murder and attempted murder, they needed to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the following four elements were true:

That Mr Whiting had caused Mr Mayne’s death and wounded Ms Harris.

That Mr Whiting carried out the acts consciously, voluntarily, and deliberately.

That Mr Whiting performed the acts intending to kill or to cause really serious injury.

That Mr Whiting was not acting in self-defence.

With the jury sent out to consider their verdicts on the charges of murder and attempted murder, there is nothing else the prosecution, defence, or public can do except wait for the result.