A Maryborough man and woman have been committed to stand trial for the alleged murder of a volunteer firefighter near Hervey Bay in Queensland in 2021.
Toni Leanne Peacock, 42, and her boyfriend Cooper Lindsay Millard, 44, have been in custody since they were charged with the alleged murder of Mark Carson, Ms Peacock's former husband, in 2021.
Police found 58-year-old Mr Carson dead in his Pacific Haven home on the Fraser Coast on April 3, 2021.
Ms Peacock and Mr Millard appeared in Maryborough Magistrates Court for a committal hearing today.
Ms Peacock smiled and mouthed the words "I love you" to her family sitting in the courtroom, before resting her head on the shoulder of her co-accused partner.
Mr Carson, who was a volunteer firefighter and personal trainer, was described as a "normally happy-go-lucky bloke" by his friend Linda Carsley, who testified before the court.
Ms Carsley said Mr Carson would sometimes confide in her about his relationship struggles and break-up with Ms Peacock.
She told the court Mr Carson had told her in March 2021, a month before his death, he and Ms Peacock were planning on resuming their relationship after breaking up.
Ms Carsley said her friend was sad when Ms Peacock later cancelled a coffee date the former couple had arranged.
"He knew he had lost her forever I think, at that point," Ms Carsley told the court.
Nicholas Jewell, a former friend of Ms Peacock's, was questioned in court about an altercation he had with Mr Carson, when he came home to find Mr Jewell and Ms Peacock drinking together.
He said Mr Carson allegedly threatened Mr Jewell with nunchucks before telling him to leave his property.
"He said things to me, but as any male would do … of course, they're going to be angry and upset," Mr Jewell told the court.
Committed to trial
Magistrate John Milburn committed the case to the Supreme Court of Queensland in Maryborough.
The couple will remain in custody until they appear at trial at a date to be fixed.
