A man on trial for murder sat silent as his mate offered ideas on how to “cover up” the alleged killing by making it appear like a suicide, or by burning the tent the victim’s body was in.
The Supreme Court of Victoria was told Nicholas James Cross also fired a shot out of a moving car for “no reason” in the days leading up to Maddison Parrott’s death.
Ms Parrott’s charred body was found inside the remains of a scorched tent at the Geelong Showgrounds in the early hours of December 4, 2018.
Co-accused Tracy Anne Menzies, known as Rexi, was in a car with Mr Cross after the killing when she discussed how he could cover up Ms Parrott’s death, the court was told.
Another friend, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, took to the witness stand on Wednxjmtzywesday and told the jury he was in the back of the car when Ms Menzie started making the suggestions while Mr Cross sat mainly silent and simply “nodded his head” in agreement.
The witness told the court he was staying at a glamping tent with Ms Parrott when Mr Cross, who was known to them, Ms Menzie, and another man, turned up early in the morning on December 3 and claimed he owed the victim $20.
He said he went to have a shower and returned to the tent before taking a phone call from Centrelink.
The man then described seeing Mr Cross and Ms Parrott, also known as Ms Pante, engage in a heated argument.
“Nick and Maddy came back into the tent, they were having an argument (and) making a bit of noise,” he told the court.
“But I didn’t think it would escalate into what it did.”
He told the jury Ms Parrott was “stomping around” before he asked the pair to “be quiet” because he was still on the phone to Centrelink.
“Nick (Nicholas Cross) then pulled a gun out of his waistband and shot Maddy in the forehead. She dropped to the ground and didn’t move again,” he said.
He said he felt “intimidated” by Mr Cross and did what he asked which included getting into his car, purchasing a padlock and returning to the campsite to grab his belongings while Mr Cross padlocked the tent.
He then paid for an extra night at the campsite, on Mr Cross’ orders, before leaving the scene, the court was told.
The pair then drove around Geelong with Ms Menzie.
The witness told the court that during the journey Ms Menzie’s discussed how Mr Cross could cover up the alleged murder, saying they could “make it look like a suicide”.
He later caught the train to his mum’s house and went to sleep.
The witness told the court he informed police of what happened the following day after his mum told him about a tent fire she had seen on the news.
The court was also told that days before the killing Mr Cross and the witness were driving around when the accused fire a shot out of the car while travelling through Grovedale in the middle of the night.
“He (Mr Cross) shot it out the window for no real reason,” he said.
The defence questioned the witness’ statement to police, noting that he told Mr Cross and Ms Menzie he “couldn’t deal with” Ms Parrott’s death and had asked the accused for the gun so he could “go back to the tent and shoot myself”.
Lawyers for Mr Cross are arguing that the witness had fabricated his evidence and was the one who fired the shot.
Defence lawyer Glenn Casement also told the court on Tuesday that Ms Parrott’s friend must have had a “very good reason” not to immediately go to police and questioned what they did in between the shooting and informing police.
He asked the jury to consider why the Centrelink operator hadn’t heard “anything unusual” during the phone call.
On Tuesday Crown Prosecutor David Glynn told Mr Cross had messaged a mate saying “when they get me I’m doing 10 years minimum”.
He alleged Mr Cross did “what a guilty man would do” and covered his tracks by ensuring the tent was burnt to the ground.
The Suzuki swift Mr Cross had arrived in was also found gutted by fire in a remote location nearby.
The court was told Mr Cross and his co-accused Todd Daryl Sell and Tracy Anne Menzies then travelled to Sydney.
He had also texted another mate saying: “When they get me I’m doing 10 years minimum.”
They were arrested in Greystanes in Sydney’s west two days after the alleged killing.
Both earlier pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
The trial continues.
