Former girlfriend recounts events on the night of Jake Anderson-Brettner’s alleged murder

A letter from the former girlfriend to accused killer, smuggled to the Riverside man while they were both in prison saying “I love you so much, as much as ever”, was written out of fear, a court has heard. TRIAL LATEST >>

THE letter of the former girlfriend to an accused killer and smuggled to the Riverside man while they were both in prison saying “I love you so much, as much as ever” was written out of fear, a court was told.

Jack Harrison Vincent Sadler, 29, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jake Anderson-Brettner, 24, on August 15, 2018.

Mr Sadler’s defence counsel Greg Richardson read the letter that included the words “our family is still possible, just not right now” to the Launceston Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The court heard the letter from Gemma Clark was sent to him following her fourth interview with police in the days after the alleged murder. She said Mr Sadler had previously sent her a letter through a warden saying she had been giving evidence.

Asked during the cross examination by Mr Richardson if the letter had been “written out of fear not love” she responded “yes”.

Ms Clark said there were comments made throughout their relationship by Mr Sadler that if she was to do wrong by him everyone around her would be hurt. She said she hadn’t taken opportunities to leave in the days following the events of August 15, 2018 because she was fearful Mr Sadler “could have hurt my dog, could have hurt my family”.

Mr Richardson questioned Ms Clark on some answers she gave during police interviews, asking if they were directed by Mr Sadler or if she had made it up at the time for self preservation.

Tasmania Police search the Remount Road tip in Launceston in relation to Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner in 2018. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

She said some had been “embellished”.

The court was told Mr Sadler and Ms Clark stayed at the Silos Hotel after being told by police the Dion Crescent address they lived at was a crime scene, and while in the shower together at the hotel Mr Sadler had told her Mr Anderson-Brettner had “probably just done a bender” and would show up. Mr Richardson asked how that could possibly be true when she had driven a vehicle getting rid of something all over Northern Tasmania and she had helped clean up.

Ms Clark said “it was conflicting” and later said “the reason it was being said was because I was upset, I knew it wasn’t true”.

Mr Sadler and Ms Clark were arrested on August 18, 2018. The court was told the following day Ms Clark directed police to the area of the Sideling where the torso of Mr Anderson-Brettner was located.

The jury heard Ms Clark had bought chilli powder, cayenne pepper, vinegar and baby oil on August 14, 2018 and had done so previously.

Asked by Mr Richardson if she thought it was to hide the odour emitted from illicit drugs when they were transported she responded “yes”.

Ms Clark is serving time in prison after pleading guilty to charges of being an accessory after the fact of the murder and failing to report a killing.

The trial continues befor

DAY 5: Ex-girlfriend of murder accused recounts night alleged killing

THE former girlfriend of accused killer Jack Harrison Vincent Sadler told a court she heard someone say “please man, don’t, please man, stop”, on the night a man was shot dead.

“I thought he said Jack please stop, but I can’t be certain,” Gemma Clark told the Launceston Supreme Court on Monday.

Mr Sadler, 29, has pleaded not guilty to shooting Jake Anderson-Brettner, 24, three times on August 15, 2018. The prosecution alleges he then dismembered the body at his Riverside home.

Ms Clark said after returning home that evening, Mr Sadler “asked me to go into the main bedroom, take Benji (her dog) and be quiet because he had told them (the person visiting) I was at work”.

Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner.

Ms Clark told the court she heard someone arrive and they later moved into the room next to where she was.

Asked by Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates SC if she had heard arguing, she said they “weren’t arguing, I heard laughter even”.

She said she heard a noise “kind of like slamming a door” a few times and later “just groaning.”

The court heard Mr Sadler told her to bring some garbage bags to the room and put on gloves. “Jack asked me to hold them (the garbage bags) open, don’t cry and just hold them open,” she said.

She said she opened her eyes at one point, “I don’t know what I saw, it was dark red and I ran, and said ‘I can’t do this’.

“Jack kept saying ‘you have to, you have to’. ”

Ms Clark said she went into the ensuite and was sick.

The jury heard she helped him load an object wrapped in sheets and a mattress protector into a Jeep.

When asked by Mr Coates if she saw what was in the sheets, she said what she saw was “dark and fleshy.”

The jury heard she drove the vehicle and was asked by Mr Sadler to stop by the side of the road where they unloaded the object and placed it on the ground.

The court has previously heard Mr Sadler allegedly disposed of the torso of Mr Anderson-Brettner down an embankment at the Sideling.

Ms Clark is serving time in jail after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact to Mr Anderson-Brettner’s murder.

Day 4: Gun found outside accused’s house

A PISTOL was located in bushes during a police search of a man’s home in the days after he was accused of killing an acquaintance following a falling out, the Launceston Supreme Court has heard.

Jack Vincent Harrison Sadler has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jake Anderson-Brettner on August 15, 2018, at his Riverside home.

During his testimony on Friday, Detective Sergeant Darren Turner said the gun was found at the Dion Crescent property on August 19, 2018.

“A Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol in a vacuum-sealed bag (was found) in bushes outside the rear door,” he said.

The court heard a taped-up piece of piping containing three boxes of ammunition and a silencer was found at the adjoining property on the same day.

Day 1: Fiancee recounts night of partner’s death

Day 2: Accused killer disposed of body parts in wheelie bins

Day 3: Accused grilled lawyer on the ways to dispose of body

Constable Marcus Williams, from northern forensic services, told the court he photographed the piping, which was found behind a crate.

The court was told two keys and ammunition were found in a zip lock bag in a drain at Mr Sadler’s house and a black pistol case was found at the bottom of a wardrobe in the room of the house used as a study.

Constable Donna Stafford showed the court photographs she took of dark stains inside the house, including at the base of the door to a room known as the shoe room.

During his opening statement, Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates SC alleged Mr Sadler had lined the room with plastic in preparation to kill Mr Anderson-Brettner.

The jury was told a Bunnings receipt, dated August 14, 2018, was also found by police in the bedroom.

Mr Coates said Mr Sadler had directed his girlfriend Gemma Clark to purchase numerous items from Bunnings, including bleach, goggles, disposable gloves and tape.

Constable Stafford also attended Peel Street in Summer Hill on August 20, 2018, where a key had been located by police at the bottom of the drain and was used two days later to unlock a black Nissan Navara.

The court has previously been told Mr Anderson-Brettner owned a black Nissan Navara.

Detective Amanda Munro told the court two magazines for a pistol, ammunition and an “item identified as a pill press” were found on August 19, 2018, at a storage unit in Legana.

It is an agreed fact of the trial that Mr Sadler’s parents owned the storage unit from May 2018 until October of that year.

Defence counsel Greg Richardson has said the defence will not dispute the fact Mr Sadler was involved in the disposal of Mr Anderson-Brettner’s body.

The trial continues before Justice Robert Pearce on Monday.