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Patea to stand trial for Tara Brown murder

Friends and family of murdered Gold Coast mum Tara Brown have watched in court as her accused killer Lionel Patea was committed to stand trial.

Mourners carry the coffin of Tara Brown
Lionel Patea will stand trial for the murder of former partner Tara Brown on the Gold Coast. (AAP)

Family and friends of murdered mum Tara Brown have faced her accused killer and former partner in a Queensland court.

Lionel John Patea, 24, was committed to stand trial for the murder of the 24-year-old during a brief hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Patea didn't speak during his appearance as a packed gallery, including Ms Brown's mother, watched on.

Members of Patea's family, including his brother, were also in the courtroom.

The ex-Bandidos bikie is accused of running Ms Brown's car off the road on a suburban Gold Coast street on September 8 and then bludgeoning her to death with a fire hydrant cover while she was trapped in her overturned vehicle.

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The partner of Ms Brown's mother, Jonathan Gardner, said outside court it had been "tough" to be in the same room as Patea.

"It's something you can't prepare for I think but you've got to do it," Mr Gardner said.

Earlier, about 30 people laid roses at the courthouse entrance in a show of support for Ms Brown.

The group also used the occasion to speak out against domestic violence.

Ms Brown's boss, Jason Hall, said the past two months had been "devastating" for those who knew her but it was important to keep her memory alive.

"We're here just for Tara today," Mr Hall said.

"We've got a situation where there's been so many domestic violence incidents now over this last period that it's got to change.

"We can't do this again."

Patea is also facing a murder charge on an unrelated matter.

He is accused of killing missing father-of-two Greg Dufty along with New Zealand man Aaron John Crawford.

Mr Dufty, 37, hasn't been seen since he went missing on the Gold Coast in June.

Crawford, 27, and Patea's matters in regards to Mr Dufty have been adjourned until January 28.

A date for Patea's trial is yet to be set.

As well as Ms Brown's supporters and Patea's brother Nelson Patea, the gallery included the ex-partner of Mr Dufty, who left the courthouse flanked by detectives.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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