Plumber called other tradies after fatal factory bashing, trial told
A plumber who killed a man trying to rob him of drugs and cash had other tradesmen attend his factory to advise on disposing the body, a trial has heard.
David Grierson had six men - including a boilermaker and three others in fluorescent work tops - visit his Braeside factory at various points during the night of May 17 last year, after he repeatedly struck Dean McGrath with a shotgun, a Supreme Court jury heard on Friday.
The court heard a plan was hatched to place Mr McGrath's body into an air conditioning duct and later take it away on a truck.
Mr McGrath had earlier beat Mr Grierson and threatened him with the shotgun as he demanded all the drugs and cash kept at the factory. However Mr McGrath, who was approaching the plumber while carrying a 47-kilogram statue, lost his footing and fell - and Mr McGrierson grabbed the shotgun.
Prosecutors allege that while Mr McGrath was on the floor in the upstairs office, Mr Grierson repeatedly struck him with the barrel of the gun, despite boilermaker Craig Marshall urging him to stop.
Mr Marshall was working in the factory when Mr McGrath arrived at 7.10pm in a black hoodie and sunglasses, armed and demanding drugs and cash.
"Stop, Dave, stop. He's done," Mr Marshall is said to have told Mr Grierson as the plumber struck Mr McGrath.
Mr Grierson allegedly replied: "F---- him. You can't rob me. You can't do this to me."
Mr Grierson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to murder. He argues he killed Mr McGrath in self-defence.
Prosecutor Peter Chadwick, QC, told the jury Mr Grierson was entitled to defend himself to the point Mr McGrath fell to the floor with a loud thump while holding the statue.
"The prosecution acknowledges that at this moment, given Mr McGrath's behaviour ... towards Mr Grierson, that it was appropriate for Mr Grierson, the accused man, to defend himself. The prosecution acknowledges that," Mr Chadwick said.
After Mr McGrath fell, the court heard, Mr Grierson grabbed the gun and began hitting him and called on Mr Marshall to help.
"At this point the time for Mr Grierson, the accused man, to be defending himself had passed," Mr Chadwick said.
After Mr McGrath's death, Mr Grierson made phone calls and the three men in fluorescent tops arrived and spoke with the plumber, before leaving.
Another man attended soon after and also left, and at about 11pm Mr Grierson sent text messages to Murray Woods asking for help.
Mr Woods attended and smoked ice with Mr Grierson and Mr Marshall as they discussed what to do.
"A plan was hatched that Mr McGrath's body would be put into an air conditioning duct and taken away on a truck," Mr Chadwick said.
Mr Marshall disposed of the gun, the court heard, and the next morning sealed the duct with Mr McGrath's body inside and wrapped in black plastic, while Mr Grierson and Mr Woods picked up a truck from a Parkdale home.
At lunchtime the day after Mr McGrath's death, his family members knocked on the factory roller door after they saw his truck parked nearby. Mr Chadwick said Mr Grierson and Mr Woods were inside the factory watching the McGrath family on a CCTV monitor, but didn't respond.
The next day, on May 19 last year, the pair handed themselves in to police and Mr Grierson said he killed Mr McGrath in self-defence.
The trial continues.
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