Accused tells of suffering

Murder-case witness on drug charge

A KEY witness in a horrific double-murder case suffered anxiety and isolation following the trial, a Hobart court has heard.

Brett Andrew Imlach, 44, faced the Supreme Court after he pleaded guilty to trafficking in methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, and cannabis.

On June 16 last year, police searched his West Moonah home and found various bags of ice in crystal and tablet form, an ice pipe and scales.

The Crown alleged Mr Imlach had sold $32,000 worth of drugs between February 28 and June 16 last year.

Mr Imlach’s lawyer said he had been affected by a significant event in his life when he was called as witness in the 2015 Marco Daniel Rusterholz double-murder trial.

Rusterholz was jailed for 45 years for the killing of Joshua Newman, 21, and his girlfriend Angela Hallam, 31, at Ravenswood in 2012. Both victims were stabbed in the neck and their bodies set alight.

As a witness, Mr Imlach had told the court Rusterholz had told him he had killed Ms Hallam and a young man.

Mr Imlach’s lawyer told the court yesterday that being involved in the trial had resulted in him being isolated from his friends and suffering a lot of stress and anxiety.

After the trial, he tried to get his life back on track, securing full-time work, but was sentenced to four months in prison for other drug offences.

Mr Imlach’s lawyer said money made in Mr Imlach’s most recent offending was used to fund his drug habit.

Chief Justice Alan Blow adjourned the case until August 18 for sentencing. Mr Imlach was remanded in custody.