Alleged stalker Shawn Michael Pinnell Chynoweth, 31, faces trail in Cairns District Court

A 31-year-old man is accused of stalking twin sisters in over a 13-month period in what one victim described as something out of a “horror movie”, a court has heard.

James McArdle was a no show at the Cairns Court House on Tuesday afternoon with his extradition to Victoria scheduled for Wednesday.

A 31-year-old man is accused of stalking twin sisters in Far North Queensland over a 13-month period in what one victim described as something out of a “horror movie”, a court has heard.

Shawn Michael Pinnell Chynoweth pleaded not guilty to three charges of stalking as his trial started in Cairns District Court on Monday.

Mr Chynoweth is accused of stalking two twin sisters, who were aged 20-21 at the time, as well as a boyfriend who lived with them in Tully.

Crown Prosecutor Matt Hancock told the court Mr Chynoweth stalked the individuals between July 2022 and August 2023 in the town between Cairns and Townsville.

“For months he loitered where the twins worked, watched them while they worked, and he loitered around the apartment where all three of them lived,” he said.

“He watched them while they were in their apartment. He did this for months and months.”

Mr Hancock said the twins worked together at a shopping centre, but Mr Chynoweth also frequently attended the cafe at which one of the twins also worked.

Mr Hancock said he would go into the pair’s work “like everyday” and watch them work “for hours”.

“He went in so much that one of the twins who was a manager banned him from the shop,” he said.

Shawn Michael Pinnell Chynoweth pleaded not guilty to three charges of stalking as his trial began on Monday June 9. He is accused of stalking a pair of twins and a partner. Photo: Instagram

“After he was banned the twins noticed he began sitting at a bench chair in an undercover area in front of their apartment on a more regular basis.”

The alleged stalking escalated to “almost every day at all hours” including around midnight. The couple allegedly spotted him outside their apartment when they woke to prepare formula for their newborn baby.

Mr Hancock said they began collecting evidence, taking photos and videos of Mr Chynoweth.

He said Mr Chynoweth also followed one of the twins and her mother into stores on occasions and sent messages to them using an Instagram profile “clearly” connected to him.

“She didn’t know what the defendant was capable of. She was scared, she felt like she was in a horror movie,” he said.

“She felt he may hurt her, grab her, or abduct her.”

The alleged offending only came to police attention after Mr Chynoweth was assaulted during a confrontation with one of the complainants and an unknown male.

The court heard police observed him multiple times outside the apartment before his August 2023 arrest.

Defence counsel Kate Fuller said several details “were not in contest”, including that he was a regular customer at the shop and spent time at a public park bench near where the twins lived.

She argued it was “curious” the complaint only emerged after a “serious assault against the defendant” and claimed Mr Chynoweth was the one being harassed and photographed.

The trial, expected to last up to six days, continues with recorded evidence from the three complainants to be played over the next two days, followed by testimony from the twins’ co-workers and police.

Mr Chynoweth maintains his innocence.

Originally published as Alleged stalker Shawn Michael Pinnell Chynoweth, 31, faces trail in Cairns District Court