‘No. I was never there’
The man defence accused of being Alexis’ killer denies murder
THE man the defence team has accused of the murder of Goondiwindi mother of three Alexis Jeffery has categorically denied any involvement in her death.
Robert Ian Trebeck has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Alexis Jeffery and yesterday Daniel Rowsell gave evidence at Trebeck’s trial in the Toowoomba Supreme Court.
Mr Rowsell said he met Ms Jeffery outside the Queensland Hotel in the border town after closing time about 1am, just hours before she was murdered.
He offered her a lift home and when she declined, saying she would walk, he gave her $20 for a cab, he said.
However, he claimed her accused killer, Trebeck, had handed the $20 back to Rowsell, saying Ms Jeffery didn’t want his money, and Trebeck had walked on with Ms Jeffery.
The pair were seen by police in Town Park up the road on the children’s play equipment about 3am, the court heard.
Ms Jeffery’s almost-naked body was found lapping the water of the Macintyre River from the bank on the morning of Sunday, March 16, 2014.
Police claim she had been strangled with her own jeans which were found in a hedge near the town’s Cultural Centre at the top of the river bank.
The Toowoomba Supreme Court heard of Rowsell’s movements that morning.
He told the court of ferrying a number of people to and from parties in his car after the pub closed before driving to the BP Service Station, where he was captured on CCTV talking with a group of people and buying food.
CCTV shows his car leaving the service station about 3.45am and he said he had driven home to Boggabilla.
A roadside camera recorded a light vehicle matching that of Rowsell’s 1991 Holden Commdore heading south toward Boggabilla at 4.09am Queensland time, although a similar car was also clocked on the same stretch of road at 5.27am (Qld time).
During cross examination of Rowsell, Trebeck’s barrister suggested “you were responsible for Alexis Jeffrey’s death, weren’t you?”
To which Rowsell replied: “No. I was never there.”
The trial before Justice John Bond will continue Monday.