Claims Parrott dealing
COURT TOLD: Murder victim selling drugs to her alleged killer
GEELONG murder victim Maddison Parrott was dealing drugs to her alleged killer when she was shot “out of the blue”, a court has heard.
The 29-year-old was found dead inside a burnt-out tent at the Geelong Showgrounds early on December 4 last year.
Corio man Nicholas Cross has been charged with her murder, with fresh claims about the killing aired in Melbourne’s Supreme Court yesterday.
Police allege Mr Cross was seeking to buy ice from Ms Parrott — also known as Maddison Pante — when a dispute erupted and a shot was fired at the Waurn Ponds woman’s head.
The extraordinary claim surfaced in court as a woman charged in connection with Ms Parrott’s death was granted bail.
Tracy Menzies took her fight for freedom to the Supreme Court after previously being refused bail on two occasions.
The 32-year-old had been in custody since December 6 when she was arrested in Sydney’s west alongside Mr Cross and another co-accused, Todd Sell.
Ms Menzies has been charged with being an accomplice to murder, with police alleging she was helping Mr Cross flee the jurisdiction.
It is also claimed the Bell Park woman was present when Ms Parrott was killed and that she later suggested burning the tent where it happened to make the death seem like a suicide.
In court, Justice Paul Coghlan shed light on the allegations surrounding the moments leading up to the shooting as he summarised the prosecution’s case.
“The (allegations) being that, in the midst of what appeared to be a drug deal in relation to which Cross was seeking to purchase from Pante a drug of addiction, some dispute occurred,” he said. “And somewhere, out of the blue, Cross (allegedly) shot and killed Pante.”
Defence lawyer Anna Dixon had earlier argued that Ms Menzies should be bailed due to a range of factors, including the likelihood she would lose her commission housing if she remained in custody any longer.
While Justice Coghlan said the case was reasonably strong and that he initially had “serious reservations” about releasing Ms Menzies, he chose to grant bail with a range of strict conditions.
He said he had been convinced by several factors, including the offer of a $20,000 surety from Ms Menzies’ father Malcolm, as well as the likely delay before a trial is reached.
“I was not going to grant bail but I’ve talked myself into it,” Justice Coghlan said.
As part of her bail conditions, Ms Menzies must report daily to Geelong police station, abide by a night-time curfew and abstain from drugs and alcohol.
She will return to court in November for a committal hearing. Mr Cross and Mr Sell remain in custody and will face court later this year.