Boss ‘gobsmacked’ at worker’s arrest
Kelly’s family in court as second murder accused appears
A SECOND man charged with murder after the death of Kelly Wilkinson has appeared in court – in what looked like a hospital gown – where he came face-to-face with the Gold Coast mum’s family.
Bradley Bell, 25, was arrested on Tuesday at a Coomera business and charged with murder.
Bell is accused of driving his ex-work colleague Brian Earl Johnston to Ms Wilkinson’s Arundel property knowing
of the ex-marine’s intent to kill her.
He faced Southport Magistrates Court dressed in what appeared to be a hospital gown and a face mask, as Ms Wilkinson’s father and sister sat in the back of the courtroom.
It is alleged Johnston, 34, set fire to his estranged wife in an Arundel backyard on April 20. He has been charged with murder.
Bell and Johnston’s former boss at a Coomera business was “gobsmacked” by the arrest. He told the Bulletin Bell was hired in a casual capacity
to “fill the gap while we needed extra staff” and he hadn’t seen him for weeks.
“He didn’t say much at all, really,” the man said. “I didn’t really know much about his personal life, as in what he did on weekends or after hours.”
Speaking on Tuesday after Bell’s arrest, Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said police would allege “he knew what the end result was going to be”.
“It will be alleged he (Bell) did some acts preparatory to the (alleged) murder that assisted Kelly’s estranged husband in committing her murder,” he said.
Insp Ahearn revealed the pair allegedly stopped at a petrol station for fuel prior to her death.
“Again, this is a terribly tragic event. A family has lost a mother, a daughter, an aunty, a sister, who will not be coming home to them and whilst this might give them some comfort there is still a significant hole in their lives,” he said on Tuesday.
“But it also underscores the situation that we will meticulously investigate these matters and anyone who is culpable in her (alleged) murder will face justice.”
Bell is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on October 15.
I DIDN’T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE, AS IN WHAT HE DID ON WEEKENDS OR AFTER HOURS
BRADLEY BELL’S EX-EMPLOYER