A MAN accused of murdering missing Bathurst man Andrew Russell [pictured] will stand trial on the charge.
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Tony Simmons, 27, was committed to trial shortly before lunchtime yesterday following a hearing before magistrate Bruce Williams which began in Bathurst Local Court on Monday.
Mr Williams is expected to hand down his decision regarding Simmons’ co-accused, Kieran Moore, this morning.
Non-publication orders exist in relation to witnesses who gave evidence during the committal hearing. The court was also closed for some parts of the three-day hearing.
Simmons will now appear in the Sydney Supreme Court on May 2, charged with murder.
On Tuesday the court heard from a witness who said Moore had allegedly confessed to them that “he and Tony had something to do with it [Andrew Russell’s killing]”.
That witness was cross-examined by both John Stratton (appearing for Moore) and Matt Lorkin (representing Simmons).
During cross-examination, the witness admitted to the court that while they couldn’t recall Moore’s exact words, their interpretation of what Moore had said was they “had killed him [Andrew Russell]”.
The witness told the court Moore had said something to the effect that “me and Tony had something to do with it” and, at the time of making the alleged admission, was upset, crying and appeared traumatised.
The witness also told the court that when they brought it up with Simmons he laughed it off and said “Kieran is losing his mind”.
As they sat in the dock on Tuesday, both men – who remained handcuffed during the proceedings, despite a request by Moore’s barrister that they be uncuffed – could be seen laughing as the first witness gave evidence.
Among those who were in the court listening at the time were Andrew Russell’s parents, Bruce Herbert and Suzanne Wallace, and members of the Simmons and Moore families.
