Source News Corp
Roger Rogerson has been refused bail over the alleged murder of Jamie Gao. Picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia FORMER NSW detective and accused murderer Roger Rogerson has been refused bail despite offering $1.5 million as security.
Rogerson, who appeared via audio visual link from the maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, didn’t react when the decision was handed down at Central Local Court on Monday. The crown says Rogerson was part of a “synchronised operation” with his co-accused Glen McNamara in the execution-style murder of 20-year-old Jamie Gao to rip him off of 2.8 kilograms of the drug ice.
CCTV footage played to the court shows McNamara taking Gao into a dark Padstow storage unit in Sydney’s southwest on May 20 before Rogerson arrives three to four minutes later, the crown says. The former policemen eventually emerge, lifting a surfboard bag containing Gao’s body into the back of McNamara’s car, the crown says.
A week later Gao’s body was found bobbing about three kilometres off Cronulla beach.
Meanwhile 2.8kg of “ice” had been discovered in the back footwell of McNamara’s car, police say.
In refusing him bail, Magistrate Les Mabbutt said Rogerson posed an unacceptable risk of committing an offence or fleeing and that the crown case had “merit”.
The comments came after Rogerson’s barrister George Thomas said there was nothing that tied his client to Gao’s alleged murder or the drug haul.
Rogerson had only gone to the storage unit after “representations” by McNamara that he feared Gao was connected to an organised triad crime group, he said.
“He wanted to make sure Rogerson was there to ensure he wasn’t being followed.” Mr Thomas said the 73-year-old only helped McNamara to dispose of Gao’s body because he thought the former cop had acted in self-defence.
McNamara has also been charged with murder and commercial drug supply.
Rogerson offered $1.5 million as security, which included $400,000 from a property on the Central Coast.
His matter will return to court in September.
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