Witnesses to the stand

Evidence to be given in case of accused murderer

REAL ESTATE agents and a 15-year-old girl will be among a group of witnesses called to give evidence in the three-day committal hearing of an accused North Shore murderer.

Nicholas Munn, 40, was charged with murdering 41year-old North Shore father Jason Fry.

He was arrested on April 17 three days after Mr Fry’s body was found in the back of a Holden station wagon parked in an industrial area at North Shore.

Charge sheets obtained by the Geelong Advertiser reveal Mr Munn allegedly killed the victim up to eight days prior to the discovery of the corpse.

Mr Munn appeared before the Geelong Magistrates’ Court for a second time yesterday via video link.

Magistrate John Lesser was told the defence hoped to bring several witnesses to the stand, including a 15-year-old girl and a number of real estate agents.

Prosecutor Kim Swadesir argued it was not necessary but Mr Munn’s lawyer, Michael Brugman, disagreed.

Mr Brugman indicated his client could argue Mr Fry’s death was the result of self-defence and said the evidence of two real estate agents would be vital to establishing the circumstances of the case.

He said the agents had had a conversation with Mr Fry and Mr Munn on the day of the alleged victim’s death.

“The timing of the death is important,” Mr Brugman said.

Under the direction of Mr Lesser, Mr Brugman said the 15-year-old girl, who was a “close friend” of Mr Munn’s, could given evidence from a secure location.

Mr Brugman told the court the deceased man was to be evicted from his North Shore unit around the date of his death due to financial reasons.

Mr Lesser granted leave for both parties to cross-examine witnesses and remanded Mr Munn in custody until February 4 for a three-day hearing.

The Geelong Advertiser was initially unable to name Mr Munn because of his connection to the Supreme Court trial of Ricky Balcombe’s murderer, Karl Hague. The jury was already deliberating on its verdict when Mr Munn was arrested for the murder, and was kept in the dark until their decision was delivered.

The court heard Mr Munn was a key figure in the dramas surrounding the death of Balcombe. He was with Balcombe on April 21, 1995, when he was bashed by Karl Hague on Yarra St, and then later when Hague and his friends were attacked as revenge as they hid in a brown Holden Kingswood.