Court hears of late-night calls

Men discussed fight, woman says

A LAUNCESTON woman heard laughter when friends of a dead man talked about a bashing that ended in the man’s death, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard.

Rebecca Lee was giving evidence yesterday in the murder trial of Anthony Colin Finnegan, 36, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Peter John Fitzgerald, 56, on December 1, 2016.

Ms Lee was asked about the movements of her partner, Sean Darcy Watkins, and a series of mobile phone calls in the early hours of December 1.

Ms Lee was woken about midnight when Mr Watkins had his phone on speakerphone.

She heard Mr Finnegan and his drinking buddy Cameron Tattersall, who had left Mr Fitzgerald’s unit, talking to Mr Watkins about the incident.

“I could hear Rebel (Mr Finnegan) and Cameron talking and laughing,” she said.

“He (Mr Finnegan) said he had hit Fitzy, got into a fight, he’d let Fitzy hit him three times and then elbowed him to the head and knocked him to the ground and that he was unconscious.

“He said he’d f…ed up and that there was blood everywhere.

“It wasn’t a ‘ha’ kind of laugh but a scared kind of laugh.”

Crown prosecutor Jackie Hartnett asked Ms Lee what she said.

“I said what the f…, it’s not funny, what's funny about this,’ she said.

“I yelled that he’s been unconscious too long you need to call the f…ing police.”

The court has heard the fight occurred around 11pm but emergency services were not called until 1.27am.

After the call Ms Lee said Mr Watkins left her house intending steal $1500 that he believed was in Mr Fitzgerald’s wallet.

Mr Watkins, who checked the deceased Mr Fitzgerald’s pulse about 1.20am, told the court he panicked and wiped blood off his hands, hid a jumper and went on the run to Queensland.

Under cross examination from defence counsel Greg Richardson he denied he had caused Mr Fitzgerald’s death.

“When you and Mr Tattersall went to Mr Fitzgerald’s unit he was still alive,” he asked. “No,” Mr Watkins replied. “Did you steal any money?” “No,” he said. The prosecution expects to conclude its case next Wednesday.