5 days ago
Supreme Court murder trial hears of moment father learned of Charlie Gander's death
A Supreme Court jury in Victoria has been read text messages exchanged between a father and his son shortly before the latter was allegedly kidnapped and murdered.
The burnt remains of 19-year-old Charlie Gander were found in a burnt-out car at Bunbartha, in the state's north, on Christmas Eve 2022.
Kylie Stott, Dimitri D'Elio and Danny Clarke have pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, murder and arson.
At the time of the alleged offending Ms Stott was aged 37, Mr D'Elio 24 and Mr Clarke 38.
In court in Melbourne prosecutor Mark Gibson KC read out extracts from a statement from the teenager's father, Richard Gander, as well as text messages between the pair in the lead-up to Christmas.
At the time Charlie was living with his father in Benalla and in his statement Mr Gander said he often struggled to keep track of his son's whereabouts and had told him to let him know when he would be home.
The court heard Charlie would often stay at friends' houses and not been seen for several days.
The court heard that on December 21, 2022 Mr Gander texted Charlie to ask, "Are you alive, mate?"
"Yeah, I'm alive. Haha," Charlie responded.
The pair made a plan to attend Charlie's aunt's home with the rest of the family for Christmas.
In his statement Mr Gander said the last message he received from Charlie was on December 21, 2022 saying "Yeah alright, sounds good".
Mr Gander said he was at a work function at the Royal Hotel in Benalla on Christmas Eve when he received a text message at 8:45pm from a woman named Rebecca.
"Hi Richard, it's Panda's mum. Can you call me, please?" the court was told the message said.
Panda was a football friend of Charlie's and his brother Mitchell.
In his statement Mr Gander said he immediately called and heard Rebecca crying and saying, "I'm so sorry about Charlie".
"Rebecca told me he's been killed before she started repeating, 'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,'" Mr Gander said in his statement.
Mr Gander said Rebecca told him that Charlie had been burnt in a car in Shepparton but did not know the precise location.
Charlie's body was found after emergency services responded to a vehicle fire on Loch Garry Road at Bunbartha, about 15 kilometres north of Shepparton.
Forensic pathologist Paul Bedford conducted the autopsy and told the court that extensive fire damage to the body meant that the cause of death could not be ascertained.
He also told the court that toxicology reports had found very high levels of the drug methylamphetamine, commonly known as ice, which may have contributed to Charlie's death.
The trial before Justice Michael Croucher continues.
