A man accused of murdering a drug dealer did not kill anyone, his barrister has told a court, but did engage in a “clumsily-executed plan” to help a friend dispose of the body and other items, including a document with his own name on it.
Alex Dion, 40, is on trial in the NSW Supreme Court accused of murdering Wachira “Mario” Phetmang, 33, in May 2018 by inflicting serious head injuries. He has pleaded not guilty.
Mr Phetmang’s body was found in bushland next to Homebush Bay Drive in Sydney’s west, wrapped in plastic and with his hands and legs bound.
On Thursday, Mr Dion’s barrister Madeleine Avenell SC told the jury that her client’s housemate was the person who killed Mr Phetmang, after a plan to steal drugs “turned into an absolute disaster”.
Ms Avenell said Mr Dion’s account is he went to a 7-Eleven convenience store with Mr Phetmang, a drug dealer, and the pair then drove back to Mr Dion’s apartment block. When they got there, Mr Dion went upstairs and left his housemate and Mr Phetmang in the parking garage.
“Mr Dion says he was up in the unit and [the housemate] came up and told him there had been a catastrophe,” Ms Avenell said.
She said the housemate asked Mr Dion for help, and he agreed because his friend was scared and shaking.
“Put yourself in Mr Dion’s position at that time,” Ms Avenell said. “Put yourself in his position before you, or as you, judge what he did.”
Source: | This article originally belongs to smh.com.au
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