Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara on trial over murder of Jamie Gao in storage unit

AMY DALE CHIEF COURT REPORTER THE DAILY TELEGRAPH JULY 28, 2015 4:50PM

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McNamara’s barrister claims Rogerson killed Jamie Gao ‘in cold blood’
Rogerson then allegedly threatened McNamara’s family

Receipt for used car Gao’s body was in found in McNamara’s house

Jury shown CCTV images of alleged planning of murder

THE jury in the murder trial of Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara has been discharged, a day after opening addresses began.

Justice Geoffrey Bellew told the 15 men and women this was due to “a legal issue which has arisen.”

“I have to make an order discharging you,” he told them.

“It would be inappropriate for me to go into reasons.

“Sometimes these things happen. It’s important both the accused in this case receive a fair trial.”

Earlier the court heard Rogerson shot Jamie Gao “in cold blood” and turned the gun on Glen McNamara, threatening to kill him and his family, McNamara’s barrister claimed in his opening address to the jury.

Image tendered to court allegedly showing Rogerson and McNamara dragging a silver surfboard bag out of the unit and into a car. It is alleged Gao’s body was inside to bag. Picture: Supplied

Jamie Gao had told his cousin shortly before his death that “street level dealing is below him”.

Rogerson, 74, and McNamara, 56, have pleaded not guilty to murder and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, the 2.78kg of methylamphetamine, known as ice.

Mr Maxwell led the jury through the series of images that shows McNamara, Rogerson and Gao arrive at Rent a Space Padstow after 1pm on May 20 last year.

The jury heard that McNamara and Rogerson appear to test the roller door four times in the 30 minutes “shortly before Jamie Gao meets his death in the unit”.

Roger Rogerson is alleged to have shot Jamie Gao in cold blood. Picture Craig Greenhill

CCTV footage shows Rogerson park his car behind McNamara’s at the storage unit before Gao’s body is removed in a silver surfboard bag.

Mr Maxwell said there is further footage of the pair buying a two tonne chain block at a Taren Point store, in Sydney’s south.

Gao’s body was discovered 2.5km offshore in Cronulla, six days after he was shot.

Glen McNamara is led out of a prison van at the King St Courts. Picture: John Grainger

The jury heard a search warrant of McNamara’s Cronulla apartment found the receipt for the white Falcon, which had been purchased in the name Turnbull, the keys to that car and the access code for the storage unit.

Mr Maxwell said to the jury that at the conclusion of the evidence “you will be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the guilt of both of the accused for murder and supplying a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine”.

The Crown has already told the jury it does not have to prove which of the men was the shooter, as they were engaged in a “joint criminal enterprise”.

The trial continues before Justice Geoffrey Bellew.

Image tendered to court showing the drug ice which was found in a pillowcase. Picture: Supplied