Witnesses told of the last hours before Robert Evans' death.

One witness spoke of sharing dinner with Evans the night before his death while another said he made plans to play golf with the 52-year-old the next day.

Evans, 52, was found in his kitchen after a neighbour contacted police expressing concerns for his welfare.

The inquest will continue for two weeks.

YESTERDAY

AN Albury man described as a controversial member of the gay community suffered a violent death when severely beaten at his unit in 2006, an inquest heard yesterday.

The body of Robert Evans, 52, was found in his kitchen after a neighbour contacted police expressing concerns for his welfare.

Mr Evans had suffered blunt force trauma to his ribs, neck, face, and a fractured sternum.

The circumstances of his death were outlined by Philip Strickland SC, counsel assisting the coroner, on the opening day of an inquest in Albury expected to last two weeks.

Mr Strickland said Mr Evans was controversial because of his alleged predatory behaviour and failure to disclose he was HIV positive.

He was last seen about 8.30pm to 9pm on January 20 and police discovered his body two days later at his unit in Small Street, Albury, with signs of a violent struggle.

Mr Evans bought a house in Hovell Street, Albury, with his then partner, Brett Cromack, in the early 1990s for $81,000.

In August 1997, Mr Evans was hospitalised in Melbourne with a nurse inadvertently telling Mr Cromack that his partner was HIV positive.

Subsequent testing revealed Mr Cromack had the same condition.

Mr Evans moved out of the house in 1998 and payments on it were continued by Mr Cromack and another man, Anthony Tants.

There was a long-running dispute between Mr Evans and Mr Cromack about the house.

Mr Cromack made a complaint to police in 2003 that Mr Evans was continuing to have sex with men and not telling them he was HIV positive.

It was revealed by Mr Evans in an interview with Insp David Cottee, of Albury police, in July 2004 that his life had been threatened three times.

Mr Evans said he had cancelled his life insurance so he would not be “knocked off”.

He went to police on January 5, 2006, with a complaint about Mr Cromack and Mr Tants, who had seen him at Mungabareena Reserve.

Mr Strickland said they had seen Mr Evans with another man and said: “Are you out spreading it? You have got AIDS”.

An apprehended violence order was sought by Mr Evans and it was due before court on January 23.

Mr Evans spoke to the son of a neighbour about 8.30pm to 9pm on January 20 and went inside his unit.

His neighbour later saw two or three men described as being “young and slightly built” walking from the units.

Mr Strickland said their identity would be part of the inquest focus.

Phone calls were made to Mr Evans at 9.34pm, 9.38pm and 9.46pm, but went unanswered.

“The obvious conclusion is that Mr Evans had died before 9.34pm,” Mr Strickland said.

Mr Cromack and Mr Tants told police they had visitors at their residence from about 8.30pm and they stayed drinking until the next morning.

Mr Strickland said if that was the case, it would have been difficult if not impossible for them to be involved in Mr Evans’ death.

But Mr Strickland said phone records obtained by police show the times given by them and guests were largely inaccurate.