Source : Perth Now news
A man accused of hitting his friend dozens of times with a machete, killing him, told police he was acting in self-defence, a jury has been told.
Christopher Reyes Gonzaga, 45, is facing trial in the Victorian Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to the murder of Gregory Tan in the early hours of April 14, 2024.
Addressing the jury, Crown prosecutor Penelope Thorp said it was alleged Mr Gonzaga attacked Mr Tan, 45, inside a home in Deer Park before setting fire to the property and walking away.
Ms Thorp said less than an hour later, Mr Gonzaga allegedly called emergency services a number of times to report the fire and request assistance.
“I need police immediately for my arrest. Just arrest me, I’m walking,” he allegedly said in one call.
In another, he allegedly said; “Please help me, I’m bleeding. I need an ambulance, someone tried to stab me.”
Ms Thorp told the jury Mr Gonzaga had allegedly told police after his arrest he’d struck Mr Tan with a machete, but that it was self-defence because Mr Tan had threatened him with a screwdriver.
“The prosecution case is that the accused was not injured by the deceased during the attack and was not acting in self-defence,” she said.
Outlining the alleged circumstances of Mr Tan’s death, Ms Thorp said Mr Gonzaga had attended Mr Tan’s Deer Park home about 11.30pm the night prior.
She said a number of other people had also visited, with the prosecution expecting them to give evidence that Mr Tan and others had been in and out of a neighbouring house that night.
The neighbouring home had been unoccupied after the resident, a woman, died of natural causes, Ms Thorp said.
In CCTV footage played in court, the prosecutor said jurors could see Mr Tan and Mr Gonzaga entered alone about 1.48am.
“This time there were no other people at the address,” she said.
The CCTV footage captured “repeated loud yelling noises and thumping” before Mr Gonzaga could be seen leaving about 2.12am, Ms Thorp said.
“No other people can be seen entering the house until firefighters arrive at 2.24am and discover the deceased’s body,” she said.
After Mr Gonzaga was arrested, he allegedly told police he’d “made friends with the wrong people” and he was “pretty sure” they’d killed the woman who lived in the neighbouring home, the jury was told.
“That’s their modus (operandi) they overdose people then rob them,” he allegedly said.
“I do not regret it because they’re very dangerous. They did that to a lot of people, I’m telling you.”
When questioned about whether he’d lit the house on fire, Mr Gonzaga allegedly said he’d had a torch but dropped it because “they said they got witches there or something”.
Ms Thorp said Mr Tan was allegedly found face-down in a pool of blood with numerous wounds to his head, neck, back, torso and arms.
Ms Thorp will continue her opening remarks to the jury on Tuesday morning before Mr Gonzaga’s barrister John Lavery delivers his opening address.
The trial continues.
