Kill accused ‘threatened’
A GOLD Coaster accused of brutally murdering his ex-wife claims both were attacked the night she died and leading up to it men were trying to extort him for $30 million, a court was told.
Andrew John Cobby had “no motive” and did not stand to gain any financial advantage from ex-wife Kym Cobby’s death, defence barrister Tony Kimmins told a directions hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.
Cobby, in his 50s, is charged with one count of murder and seven counts of fraud.
Ms Cobby was found beaten and left to die in the street outside her Worongary home on November 12, 2017.
The court was told Ms Cobby was last seen taking out the garbage at night.
“There was heard by other people loud screaming and yelling some short time later,” Mr Kimmins said when summarising the allegations.
It is alleged Cobby had borrowed one of his four flatmates’ cars and was in the Worongary area on the night of her death.
Cobby was found in bushland nearby with a number of injuries, the court was told.
He appeared in court yesterday with a black eye, his grey hair dishevelled and wearing a grey t-shirt with beige shorts.
Mr Kimmins said Cobby claims he and his ex-wife were attacked in the street.
The court was told Cobby told police he had gone to chase after the attackers.
The pair had split months earlier but remained on friendly terms and were regularly seen in each other’s company, Mr Kimmins told the court.
Mr Kimmins read out a portion of Cobby’s interview with police taken the day after the alleged murder.
Cobby allegedly said: “I had four individuals trying to extort over $30 million out of me.”
In the interview Cobby also alleged he was being threatened “every second day”.
Police allege Cobby owed the same men a “substantial amount” after he was supposed to invest cash in the stock market for them.
The court was told Cobby and his ex-wife had both gone to police about the alleged threats prior to her death.
Mr Kimmins said Cobby had given the four men thousands of dollars in an attempt to make them go away.
The court was told the relationship between Cobby and his ex-wife had remained on friendly terms despite the split.
“There is no apparent motive indicating why Mr Cobby would kill his ex-wife,” Mr Kimmins said.
“No one had seen any acts of violence.”
The court was told Cobby would not benefit from any life insurance policy and therefore would not gain financially from her death.
Mr Kimmins applied to have five people who could provide information about the alleged threats and extortion cross-examined at a committal hearing.
Magistrate Jane Bentley determined the people could have information pertinent to the case and ordered they give evidence. The matter was adjourned for a committal hearing on October 11.