Alleged killers' fate known soon

Averyll Loft | 6th October 2009

©istockphoto/DNY59

A JURY is expected to retire today to decide the fate of two Maryborough men accused of a murder in the St Mary's churchyard.

Jason Andrew Pearce, 38, and Richard John Meerdink, 40, have pleaded not guilty to bashing Post Office Hotel resident Wayne Warren Ruks to death in the church grounds on July 3 last year.

During the trial the jury has heard evidence from numerous witnesses including police detectives, residents of the Post Office Hotel and Pearce's and Meerdink's ex-girlfriends.

Among the evidence presented was CCTV footage which showed two men identified as the defendants assault 45-year-old Mr Ruks outside the Bazaar Street church.

The 15 minutes of footage showed the accused men deliver a number of blows to Mr Ruks' stomach.

Yesterday the jury was shown a further two segments of video footage.

The first was an interview between Maryborough detectives and Pearce almost a week after the murder.

During the interview Pearce could be heard telling police he and Meerdink had been drinking at the Tattersalls Hotel on Richmond Street before they ran into Mr Ruks while walking along Bazaar Street.

The second lot of footage was of a “walk-through” of the church grounds as part of police investigations.