Former NSW detective Roger Rogerson told his wife that he went
into a storage unit where Jamie Gao was allegedly murdered just to give
some "old fatherly advice", a court has heard.
Rogerson, dressed in prison greens, appeared at Central Local Court on Monday via audio visual link from Sydney's maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) to make a bid for bail.
In opposing his application, crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC played CCTV footage to the court, that he said demonstrated how Rogerson was part of a "synchronised operation" with his co-accused Glen McNamara.
He alledged the former policemen had planned the execution-style shooting murder of the 20-year-old Gao to try to rip him off of 2.8 kilograms of drugs.
McNamara can be seen taking Gao into the dark Padstow storage unit in
Sydney's southwest on May 20 before Rogerson arrives three to four
minutes later, he said.
The former cops eventually emerge, lifting a surfboard bag into the back of McNamara's car.
Gao's body was found bobbing about three kilometres off Cronulla beach a week later while 2.8 kilograms of "ice" was also discovered in the back footwell of McNamara's car, police say.
After the alleged murder and Rogerson's arrest, the court heard the 73-year-old had been recorded talking to his wife Anne on the phone.
During the conversation Rogerson said McNamara and Gao had been in the storage unit for a while so he just went to see what was happening and give a bit of "old fatherly advice" to the former cop.
Mr Maxwell said that explanation to his wife "didn't hold up".
If released, he warned Rogerson, who is charged with murder and drug supply, would pose a flight risk and had the ability to pervert the course of justice.
"If convicted of either of these charges he would expect to spend the rest of his life in jail," Mr Maxwell said.
Rogerson's barrister George Thomas said the crown case against his client was weak.
In a heated address to the court he said the crown didn't know who fired the fatal shot or whether Gao himself had brought the gun to the storage unit.
The hearing continues.
Rogerson, dressed in prison greens, appeared at Central Local Court on Monday via audio visual link from Sydney's maximum security Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) to make a bid for bail.
In opposing his application, crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC played CCTV footage to the court, that he said demonstrated how Rogerson was part of a "synchronised operation" with his co-accused Glen McNamara.
He alledged the former policemen had planned the execution-style shooting murder of the 20-year-old Gao to try to rip him off of 2.8 kilograms of drugs.
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| Photo: Dallas Kilponen - Chris Maxwell QC - |
The former cops eventually emerge, lifting a surfboard bag into the back of McNamara's car.
Gao's body was found bobbing about three kilometres off Cronulla beach a week later while 2.8 kilograms of "ice" was also discovered in the back footwell of McNamara's car, police say.
After the alleged murder and Rogerson's arrest, the court heard the 73-year-old had been recorded talking to his wife Anne on the phone.
During the conversation Rogerson said McNamara and Gao had been in the storage unit for a while so he just went to see what was happening and give a bit of "old fatherly advice" to the former cop.
Mr Maxwell said that explanation to his wife "didn't hold up".
If released, he warned Rogerson, who is charged with murder and drug supply, would pose a flight risk and had the ability to pervert the course of justice.
"If convicted of either of these charges he would expect to spend the rest of his life in jail," Mr Maxwell said.
Rogerson's barrister George Thomas said the crown case against his client was weak.
In a heated address to the court he said the crown didn't know who fired the fatal shot or whether Gao himself had brought the gun to the storage unit.
The hearing continues.
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