Murder jury told of separated bones Skull showed ‘severe’ blow

AN EXAMINATION of Charters Towers man Michael Mccabe’s remains revealed “severe force” produced the trauma found on his skull.

And that may have been fatal, a court was told yesterday.

Forensic pathologist Rohan Samarasinghe conducted an autopsy on September 21, 2015 after Mr Mccabe’s body was found in a creek bed down an embankment off the side of Mount Spec Rd on September 17, 2015.

Dr Samarasinghe told Townsville Supreme Court yesterday that he couldn’t determine the cause of death, or whether the injuries had been sustained ante or post mortem because of the absence or decomposition of soft tissue.

Dr Samarasinghe testified there was a serious fracture that ran from the right-hand side of the skull through to the base of left-hand side.

He also noted bones, including the cheek bone had been separated from the skull.

Crown Prosecutor Greg Cummings asked if the fracture could have been from a punch.

Dr Samarasinghe responded that he had never seen a fracture like that in his life that had been caused by only a punch.

“It’s quite possible a heavy, blunt object,” he said.

Brent Malcolm Huxley is on trial for Mr Mccabe’s alleged murder in Townsville Supreme Court.

The prosecution allege he killed Mr Mccabe on or about August 15, 2015.

Leonie Maree Doyle is charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder.

Matthew Luke Horima Rewha is charged with unlawful assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Scientific officer Sergeant Allan Bartulovich described Mr Mccabe’s remains as “well preserved” and in a “mummified” state which kept them still intact.

When photos of Mr Mccabe’s badly decomposed body were shown to the jury and the court on screens, members of his family wiped away tears.

Under cross-examination by Huxley’s defence barrister Harvey Walters, witness Darren Hess maintained Huxley told him he had killed Mr Mccabe.

“The usual s**t … we bashed this c*** who had a $10,000 hit on him,” Mr Hess testified quoting Huxley.

Mr Hess rejected the suggestion made by Mr Walters that he had read online articles about Huxley being charged with murder, and the manner of Mr Mccabe’s death which informed his account.

The trial continues.