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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Nick Bielby

Jury expected to retire to consider verdict in Whitebridge murder trial

Police investigate the scene at Whitebridge in 2018. Inset: Wade Still

The jury is expected to retire to consider their verdict on Thursday in the case of Troy McCosker, who is on trial for murder over the death of 23-year-old Wade Still.

Mr Still was fatally burned at Whitebridge in the early hours of August 20, 2018, after twice being set on fire.

Mr McCosker - one of two men charged over Mr Still's death - has pleaded not guilty to murder and an alternative charge of laying petrol with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and has been on trial in Newcastle Supreme Court since October 9.

The Newcastle Herald reported at the beginning of the trial that the prosecution argues Mr McCosker entered into a joint criminal enterprise with the other man - who has pleaded guilty to murder - by agreeing to drive him to the scene where Mr Still was burned the first time to "finish him off" by again pouring petrol near him and setting him alight.

Mr McCosker's defense argues that he had nothing to do with Mr Still's death.

In closing submissions on Wednesday, senior crown prosecutor Christopher Maxwell told the jury that Mr McCosker had a "bad relationship" with Mr Still and questioned whether Mr McCosker's claim of seeing and hearing nothing near the scene of Mr Still's death was credible.

Mr Maxwell also accused Mr McCosker of changing his version of events in order to distance himself from the crime.

Defense barrister Terry Healey said the jury should not "let emotions rise" because of the details they had heard during the trial surrounding Mr Still's death.

Mr Healey said the jury needed to determine whether his client had the intention of joining in causing the death of Mr Still beyond a reasonable doubt.

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