The Gold Coast Bulletin

Accused, victim ‘good friends’

- ALEXANDRIA UTTING PAUL WESTON paul.weston@news.com.au

SLAIN Gold Coast IT marketing manager Philip Carlyle and his accused murderer had a “good friendship” and were excited about closing a deal before his “execution” in a plant room at their offices, a court has heard.

Mr Carlyle, 48, was shot four times at point-blank range on April 13, 1997 in a soundproof plant room at the offices of Gold Coast IT start-up Atnet, where he worked.

His business partner, Neil Andrew Pentland, 72, is acty cused of firing four bullets into the 48-year-old father’s head in a “methodical execution”. He has pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to murder.

The court on Thursday heard one of a number of police interviews with Mr Pentland after Mr Carlyle’s death in 1997 in which Mr Pentland told officers the pair were “really excited” about closing a deal together and had a video conference with a potential US backer – Circle Strategies – on the day of the killing.

“To my mind we had a pret

CITY councillor­s appear divided over how to deal with the homeless, with some concerned about the Gold Coast’s image while others want a long-term solution.

Councillor­s have met behind closed doors to discuss the crisis on the street, after several reports by the Bulletin focused on violence at night in the CBD, with up to 100 homeless camped outside shops and in popular tourist parks.

Other reports have highlighte­d safety risks, with a 12-year-old under good relationsh­ip,” Mr Pentland told police in 1997. “We had what I would describe as an extremely good business relationsh­ip and quite a good friendship, as well.”

Mr Pentland told police he was not aware of any problems between them in the lead-up to his business partner’s death the care of Child Safety released from hospital to return to the streets of Surfers Paradise.

The city’s “Response to the Homeless” was discussed by the lifestyle committee behind closed doors and on return to an open session, Councillor Hermann Vorster indicated it would be dealt with at full council on Tuesday.

Councillor­s were told the Mayor would “provide a public explanatio­n” about the city’s position at that meeting.

The Bulletin understand­s the announceme­nt would be more about how local government fits in a and on the day he died their relationsh­ip was “excellent”.

But Crown prosecutor David Meredith claims their partnershi­p had “deteriorat­ed” as Mr Carlyle insisted on taking trips overseas and was having an online romance with a US woman.

The trial continues. policy framework and working with other agencies, rather than a funding amount.

A council insider said there was a divide between councillor­s about the best way to help the homeless.

“There’s a bit of division on this. There’s a human element and there’s a public amenity element,” the council source said.

Some councillor­s had been approached by businesses in the CBD concerned about the impact of vagrants sleeping outside their shops.

“People with blankets and trolleys roaming around were seen as not

A GOLD Coast mum repeatedly punched another woman in the head in a park because she thought she was having an affair with her husband.

Clare Wilkinson pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrate­s Court on Thursday to assault occasionin­g bodily harm.

Prosecutor Paula Cavanaugh told the court the victim was in Damian Leeding Memorial Park, Coomera about 6.15pm on April 11 this year when she heard her name called.

Ms Cavanaugh said Wilkinson accused the woman of having good for business,” source said.

“But there is a humanity conversati­on going on there as well and that is quite emotive. Some are more emotional about this than others.”

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has obtained figures that show state funding for the Gold Coast is much lower than the amounts given to other regional centres.

“We need a much better response that can lead to better outreach services. At the moment it falls on the police as the only 24/7 agency and this isn’t their role,” he said. the

 ?? Pictures: GLENN HAMPSON ?? Homeless asleep in the cold, empty streets of Southport in the early hours of the morning; (inset) possession­s kept in a shopping trolley.
Pictures: GLENN HAMPSON Homeless asleep in the cold, empty streets of Southport in the early hours of the morning; (inset) possession­s kept in a shopping trolley.
 ?? Picture: JOHN GASS ?? Neil Andrew Pentland arrives at the Brisbane Supreme Court.
Picture: JOHN GASS Neil Andrew Pentland arrives at the Brisbane Supreme Court.

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