Danielle Easey murder: Friends claim to court on stabbing revelation
A woman was “shocked” and “scared” after being told by a friend she had “stabbed” a woman named Danielle before overhearing her argue with her boyfriend about the disclosure, a court has heard.
Danielle Easey’s body was discovered dumped at Cockle Creek near Newcastle in August, 2019.
Justin Kent Dilosa, 37, is standing trial in the NSW Supreme Court having pleaded not guilty to the 29-year-old woman’s murder.
He has pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.
During his opening address to the jury, Crown prosecutor John Stanhope alleged both Mr Dilosa and his former partner, Carol McHenry, were responsible for murdering Ms Easey.
It has been alleged that Ms Easey was killed at Narara on the Central Coast either on August 17 or August 18, 2019.
The trial has heard that Ms Easey’s body was discovered wrapped in a forensic suit, plastic and a doona.
An autopsy found she had suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head, the court has been told.
Mr Stanhope has told the court that Ms Easey was a known drug user and met Mr Dilosa several days before her death.
Mr Dilosa has denied inflicting fatal blows on Ms Easey or being responsible for her murder.
His defence barrister Angus Webb has told the court that it was not disputed that he used a van to move her body.
Vanessa Burns told the jury on Wednesday that at that time she was a frequent methamphetamine user and was friends with both Mr Dilosa and Ms McHenry.
She said that on one occasion both came to her house when Ms McHenry told her: “The problem that she had, had been dealt with.”
“Later on did she say anything about how she dealt with the problem,” Mr Stanhope asked.
“Yes she did … She said she stabbed her,” Ms Burns replied.
Ms Burns added: “I asked ‘who’ and she said ‘Danielle’ … Her and Justin got into an argument.”
Ms Burns said she was “shocked” and “scared” and moved out of the lounge room but overheard Mr Dilosa say “She didn’t need to know”.
A series of text messages exchanged between Mr Dilosa and Ms Burns early on the morning of August 19, 2019 was read to the court on Wednesday.
Mr Dilosa said in one message: “What I did ultimately was to keep those kids safe, but it will also keep half of Newcastle and the Central Coast from going to jail or killing each other. What I’m saying sounds far-fetched but you’ll understand when I see you.”
Ms Burns responded: “I don’t know if I can be a part of it hey.”
Another woman, Bronte Daly, told the jury on Wednesday that she was on one occasion sitting around a campfire at a friend’s house.
She said that Carol McHenry was at the gathering looking “very withdrawn” and overheard Mr Dilosa make a comment about a woman’s body.
“Something was said about a house, a bed, a mattress and it needing to be disposed of,” Ms Daly told the court.
Ms Daly told the court she was at the time a frequent user of ice and marijuana, had taken drugs that night and was “zoning out”.
Ms Daly said that on another occasion, McHenry and Mr Dilosa came to her house to collect a car.
When they arrived Ms McHenry and Mr Dilosa were arguing in loud voices.
“It was very heated, it was a full blown argument,” Ms Daly said.
“And Carol said to Justin ‘I’ll let them know it was all you and you’ll get 20 years’.”
The trail before Justice Deborah Sweeney continues
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