news, local-news, murder trial, noel joseph ingham, darren ward gale, jackie hartnett, greg richardson, helen wood, decapitated

Noel Joseph Ingham's body was found buried in bushland at Dulverton on November 22, 2016. He had been decapitated and his head has never been found. On Wednesday a jury in the Burnie Supreme Court heard the opening statements in the trial of Darren Ward Gale, 54, for the murder of his flatmate, then 58-year-old Mr Ingham. Crown prosecutor Jackie Hartnett told the court Mr Ingham's head was removed from his body after he died, and Mr Gale allegedly did so to conceal how Mr Ingham died. However, Mr Gale's defence lawyer Greg Richardson told the jury the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence showed they "haven't got the faintest idea" how Mr Ingham actually died. He warned jurors be wary of the dangers of circumstantial evidence for proving beyond reasonable doubt Mr Gale was guilty of the crime of murder. The Crown will present evidence from more than 60 witnesses in the trail that is expected to last six weeks. In an opening statement more than an hour long, Ms Hartnett told jurors Mr Ingham had lived in a West Ulverstone unit since 2014, and invited Mr Gale to move in with him on July 15, 2016. They knew each other from time spent at Burnie men's shelter, The Lodge, the court heard. One week later CCTV footage at the Patrick Street medical clinic captured the pair together leaving the clinic. Jurors heard that was the last time Mr Ingham was seen alive. The jury heard Ms Hartnett allege that within days of the medical centre visit Mr Gale murdered Mr Ingham, removed his head with a knife and buried the partially clothed body in a clandestine grave. Ms Hartnett said in the months that followed and before Mr Ingham's remains were found, Mr Gale's actions and movements should leave the jury in no doubt that he murdered Mr Ingham. She said Mr Ingham was an alcoholic, who would buy cask wine from a local liquor store and sit at home drinking and making phone calls, and his bank and telephone records reflected that. "After [July 22, 2016] his bank records and his phone activity changed markedly, and all but ceased," she said. "He was not seen at or around [his home], nor the IGA, nor the bottle shops." After that time, she said, Mr Gale began selling or giving away Mr Ingham's belongings, telling people Mr Ingham was undergoing medical tests in Hobart. Ms Hartnett said Mr Gale was stopped by police on July 30, 2016 for a random breath test, in a car he told police belonged to a friend. He was driving Mr Ingham's Jeep Cherokee, which would be found completely destroyed by fire on November 2, 2016, about 1km from where Mr Ingham's body would be found weeks later. Mr Gale was arrested and charged with Mr Ingham's murder on December 1, 2016 and Ms Hartnett said during a recorded conversation Mr Gale had with a friend while in custody he said "I might even walk out with self-defence yet". Mr Richardson said much of the Crown's evidence would not be challenged, but circumstantial evidence does not prove "beyond reasonable doubt that Darren Gale is the person that killed Noel Ingham." While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox? Sign up here.

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