Killed woman jailed for fraud
A COURT has been told a woman killed by her ex-husband had been jailed for Centrelink fraud prior to her death.
Soldier Christopher Carter is accused of the double murder of his ex-wife Renee Carter and her convicted paedophile partner Corey Croft at their Upper Coomera home on January 20, 2015.
The 39-year-old pleaded not guilty to both charges at the start of his trial by a jury of six women and six men in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday.
Carter’s defence barrister, David Brustman QC, instructed by Howden Saggers Lawyers, said the fact Carter had killed both Ms Carter and Mr Croft was “not in dispute” but the issue in question was whether the crown could show he had the intention to murder them.
During cross examination, Mr Brustman asked friend and nursing colleague of Ms Carter, Natalie Ann Mortimer, if Ms Carter had a “drinking problem” prior to her death.
“She told you that she couldn’t look after the kids when she did have the drink- ing problem... to use your words, she’d wipe herself out and not be actually capable of looking after her children, is that right?,” Mr Brustman said.
“Yes,” Ms Mortimer replied. The court also heard that Ms Carter had been jailed for Centrelink fraud.
Mr Carter allegedly drove past the house of his ex-wife and her boyfriend twice on the same day he stabbed them to death in a frenzied attack, the court was told.
The court heard Ms Carter told Ms Mortimer she had been speaking to Carter in the days leading up to her death.
Crown prosecutor Glen Cash QC asked Ms Mortimer whether she spoke to Ms Carter on the day she was killed.
“She rang and told me that she thought Chris had driven past the house,” she said. “Twice, slowly.” On Wednesday, a statement Carter made to police soon after being arrested on January 21 was read to the court. In it, he told officers he did not know where Ms Carter lived.
The court heard Ms Carter and Mr Croft met at a homeless shelter and later moved in together.
When Ms Mortimer found out Mr Croft was a convicted paedophile she advised Ms Carter to move out, the court heard.
The court on Wednesday was told Carter was forced to return early from his deployment in Iraq because of issues relating to his children with Ms Carter.
He later gained custody of children they had together, the court was told.
The trial continues today.