Millmerran murder case to go to pre-trial hearing

A 70-YEAR-OLD man charged with murder arising from the death of a man at Millmerran has had his case set down for a committal hearing with cross examination of certain witnesses.

Kevin Patrick Hanley, who remains on Supreme Court bail, appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday for a directions hearing which was to determine which witnesses would be required for cross examination at the pre-trial hearing.

It was agreed between the prosecution and defence counsel that four witnesses would be called to give evidence under cross examination by Hanley’s legal representatives in the same court at a later date.

The 70-year-old was charged after the death of Matthew David Morcus at Millmerran on October 13 last year but the accused man has not as yet been required to enter any plea to the charge.

Similarly, he has not been required to enter pleas to other charges including producing and possessing a dangerous drug and unlawfully possessing a weapon.

Police claim the 46-year-old Morcus had died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest allegedly sustained at an Ayers Rock Rd residence that night.

Police also claim there had been “bad blood” between the two men involved.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie remanded Hanley on bail and adjourned the case for committal hearing with cross examination later this year.