A BRIEF of evidence about an alleged murder contains suggestions the motive for the killing was a “cook up” of the drug ice that went wrong.
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A committal hearing for Lavington man Campbell Hart, accused of shooting Luke Hargrave, 32, in October last year, will likely be set down for next year.
Albury magistrate Tony Murray said yesterday the extensive brief on the case included numerous statements containing rumour, innuendo and hearsay about potential motives.
A large number of witnesses, including a ballistics expert, will be called at Hart’s committal hearing.
His solicitor, Graham Lamond, originally sought more than 20 witnesses to clarify issues, including a motive for the shooting.
But Mr Murray handed down a judgment outlining the reasons for calling 16 witnesses, and the issues they would give evidence about.
Mr Murray detailed the allegations against Hart, 28, in his judgment.
He said Hart drove to Mr Hargrave’s home in Vickers Road on October 29 and two women were present at the house.
Hart and Mr Hargrave left in a black Holden ute during the evening, returning about 10.40pm.
They went to a cinema room in the house and closed the door.
One of the women went to the room intending to speak to Mr Hargrave, who was attempting to make a phone call.
The woman left the room while he was on the phone and Hart locked the door.
It was about 10.50pm when Hart produced a .22 calibre pen gun and shot Mr Hargrave to the left temple.
The bullet did not exit his head and he lost consciousness, falling to the floor against a footrest.
The two women heard a loud bang and saw Hart walk down the hallway towards the front door.
“Luke just took a shot at me,” he told them as he left.
One of the women found Mr Hargrave, screamed for help and ran outside to ask Hart what had happened, but he drove off.
Mr Hargrave was holding his mobile phone in his right hand.
Ambulance staff transported Mr Hargrave to the Albury Base Hospital but he did not regain consciousness and died early the next day.
Hart drove to Glenellan Road, Gerogery, about 25 kilometres north of Albury, and soon after midnight set fire to the ute, which was destroyed.
The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered.
Police inquiries revealed Hart and Mr Hargrave had previous disagreements over money owed for drug dealings and the sale of the ute belonging to the dead man.
Hart had given a bag to a Thurgoona man on October 29 and told him to “look after” it and its contents.
It was later handed to police and contained a pump action .22 rifle in several pieces, a case containing a .22 semi-automatic pistol, two magazines and ammunition.