Murder hearing told of blood on hands
THE man accused of murdering a grandmother in her own home showed up at a friend’s house covered in blood as police began to examine the crime scene, a court has heard.
James Ray Samuel Mabo is charged with murdering Rosemary Russo in the early hours of December 8, 2016.
It will be alleged he broke into the grandmother’s home and attacked her, causing fatal injuries.
Witnesses were cross- examined by Mabo’s defence barrister Scott Geeves during a committal hearing in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday.
Ms Russo’s neighbours, Justin and Belinda Moviligati, said they heard three loud bangs coming from the grandmother’s home shortly after midnight on December 8, 2016.
Mr Moviligati went into the house to investigate, found Ms Russo and began calling triple- 0.
He said he then saw a man “bursting” through a door and fleeing the scene.
“I saw the back of this person down on one knee,” Mr Moviligati said.
“I only saw the back of him, I didn’t see his face.
“He’s legged it. I’ve ran after him and it was all over.”
Mr Moviligati said the man was wearing a yellow singlet. His wife said she also saw the man but thought he was shirtless, while another neighbour, Jamie Nicholson, said he also saw a man in a yellow singlet fleeing the scene.
Jack Moro told the court Mabo was shirtless when the accused knocked on his door sometime between 2am and 3am. Mr Moro said he questioned Mabo as to why he had blood on his hands and shorts, to which he claimed Mabo said he had been attacked by Adrian Dami.
“He told me that he got jumped and bashed,” Mr Moro said.
“He said he had nowhere to go so he came and seen me.
“In the initial story they got in a fight … then I was told ( by Mabo) that Adrian hurt an old lady and James tried to help her.”
The accused’s sister, Sharon Mabo, said she had hosted a party on December 7, 2016.
She said Mabo and Mr Dami were both drinking at the party and got into an altercation after a “rap battle”.
Sharon Mabo said her brother and Mr Dami had a fight behind Woodlands Village Shopping Centre.
When questioned by Mr Geeves, Mr Dami said he had asked Mabo about “rumours” he had been spying on people while they slept before having an argument which escalated into a fight.
Mr Dami said he was arrested after the fight when he punched a police car in anger.
The court heard that after the fight Mabo and several others went to the house of his father, Alfred Hankin, where they continued drinking.
Jairo Uliduldam said Mabo had to be helped into and out of a car and was so drunk he fell to the ground at one stage.
“He just couldn’t walk,” Mr Uliduldam said.
Nelson Donaldson said he was also at Mr Hankin’s house and at some point realised that Mabo had left.
Mabo handed himself over to police later on December 8 and was charged with murder.
The hearing continues.