Man charged with country club murder denied bail
A man charged over the fatal shooting of a country club owner on the Fraser Coast during a bungled home invasion has been refused bail.
Ashton Taylor McKinley, 24, is one of three men charged with the murder of Gregory Harding on August 16.
The 64-year-old was found dead at his home at the Craignish Country Club with a gunshot wound to his thigh, which police will allege severed an artery and caused him to bleed to death.
During a bail application on Tuesday, Brisbane Supreme Court heard that the motive was a robbery and the shooting was “unintentional”.
The Crown will allege Mr Harding was shot at close range as he struggled with the robbers at about 10.30pm that night.
Wadding from the bullet casing lodged in Mr Harding’s thigh.
“The applicant and the co-accused went to the residence with the intention of robbing the deceased,” Justice David Boddice said.
McKinley allegedly stole the club’s CCTV footage which was later destroyed.
The Crown will also allege that the accused were concerned a key witness could go to the police and threatened to “take steps” if necessary.
Justice Boddice ruled the threat to witnesses was the “primary concern” along with the ongoing risk of reoffending and refused bail.
