BN- A central witness in the Gold Coast murder case of slain Bandidos bikie gang associate Max Waller has been ordered to give evide...
BN- A central witness in the Gold Coast murder case of slain Bandidos bikie gang associate Max Waller has been ordered to give evidence in person despite having fears for his safety.
Regan Dreckmeyer was hoping to be cross-examined via video-link in the committal hearing of three men charged over Mr Waller's stabbing death in a Broadbeach park on June 23, 2013.
Rival gang members Cohen Andrew Smith and Benjamin Thomas Mortimer have been charged with Mr Waller's murder while alleged getaway driver Wade Yates-Taui was charged with manslaughter.
In an application for a cross-examination hearing at Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Michael Hogan ordered Mr Dreckmeyer appear in person during the trio's committal hearing, which starts on February 15.
Police prosecutor Kirsty Johnson told the court Mr Dreckmeyer had changed his address and held fears over his and his family's safety.
"The concern is if he was to come to court he might be place in certain danger," Ms Johnson said.
Smith's lawyer Angus Edwards, who had earlier agreed for four other witnesses to appear via video-link, said it was a different matter with Mr Dreckmeyer.
Mr Edwards told the court Mr Dreckmeyer was an integral witness whose credibility had to be questioned given the differing versions of events he had given to police.
Mr Edwards said while Mr Dreckmeyer had told police he had received a confession from Yates-Taui and been ordered to destroy Smith's phone, he'd altered his story in other statements to police.
"An accuser should have to face the accused unless there's some specific threat," Mr Edwards said.
"He is grossly, grossly, inconsistent as to his version ... his credit is an issue."
Magistrate Hogan said the defence was entitled to scrutinise Mr Dreckmeyer's credibility and said any risk of harm coming to the witness was "minimal".
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/10/20/12/06/bikie-gang-murder-witness-fears-for-safety#ilCPBAksYQqOrXBx.99
