Police have charged a New South Wales man with murder, alleging he ran a car off the road causing a fiery car crash.
The bodies of Nomads MC member Daniel Elliot, 42, and 29-year-old Jared Ward, from Tucabia, were found in the wreckage of their car on the Pacific Highway at Glenugie, south of Grafton, on the evening of December 9, 2018.
Witnesses described a furious chase between two cars and gunshots prior to one of the cars running off the road, rolling and bursting into flames.
Coffs-Clarence Police District Detective Acting Inspector Peter O’Reilly said initial witness reports soon led investigators to believe that the crash was no accident.
“There was a firearm involved in the offence, and police will allege that together with the manner of driving of this male, it’s a caused the other vehicle to leave the road,” Detective Acting Inspector O’Reilly said.
Multiple charges laid
Coffs-Clarence Police established Strike Force Kiowa to investigate what appeared to be the suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash, and yesterday charged 34-year-old South Grafton man, James Kevin Cook with two counts of murder, one count of recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm and one count of possess loaded firearm in a public place.
“We’ve certainly got evidence from CCTV, dashcam footage, and witnesses that there was some erratic driving occurring,” Detective Acting Inspector O’Reilly said.
“The vehicles were seen travelling north on the highway initially and then southbound.”
Detective Acting Inspector O’Reilly said Mr Cook was known to Mr Elliot and Mr Ward, and that a disagreement between them had sparked the highway chase.
A female passenger survived the crash, but was seriously injured and airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital.
‘He’s a good boy’
More than a dozen family and friends of the accused and his alleged victims were at Grafton Local Court today.
Mr Cook’s father Gary blamed his son’s situation on the drug ice.
“He’s a good boy — he’s had a hard life,” he said.
“Everything is devastated in our family with what’s happened — all I can say is, ‘ice.'”
Mr Cook said he felt for the families of Mr Elliot and Mr Ward, but wanted to stand by his son’s side and show support from his family.
Mr Cook was today refused bail and his case has been adjourned until July 8.