A man accused of murdering a Melbourne mother allegedly admitted the crime to one woman before using the victim’s name to threaten another, a court has heard.
Tony John Smith is charged over the death of Karen Rae in April 2015, after the 48-year-old went missing from her Frankston North home.
During a pre-trial committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, a witness told how the 50-year-old had confessed to killing Ms Rae.
Tony John Smith, who has been accused of killing Karen Rae (pictured), allegedly admitted the crime to one woman before using the victim’s name to threaten another, a court has heard
April Kinna said she had seen Smith at the Frankston court house after he’d been charged over a separate matter, and that he had confessed to killing Ms Rae, crossing her arms and ‘put a smile on her face’.
‘I didn’t believe what he told me, I thought he’d said it to scare me,’ she told the court.
She added: ‘I tried to block it out. I didn’t want to listen to it.’
Another witness, Michelle Terry, told the court Smith had bashed her and said she’d suffer the same fate as Ms Rae.
The 46-year-old said she had been exchanging sex acts with Smith and his brother Nick in return for the drug ice and that the sexual activity was violent.
Ms Terry told the court that in August 2015, Smith assaulted her, saying: ‘I’m going to do to you what I did to Karen Rae’.
During a pre-trial committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, a witness told how the 50-year-old had confessed to killing Ms Rae (pictured) and crossing her arms
Another witness, Michelle Terry (pictured), told the court Smith had bashed her during violent sexual activity and said that she would suffer the same fate as Ms Rae
The witness said she was too scared when questioned by police in November that year to admit to having heard Ms Rae’s name.
Ms Terry explained that she had wanted to distance herself from the situation and that she had seen Smith in the possession of a 9mm handgun.
Ms Kinna also claimed Smith had previously spoken of having ‘sex with chicks’ and that he had told her he could ‘press slightly on their necks’ and they’d pass out.
Victoria Police protective services officer Fiona Hogg told the court she had seen both Smith and Ms Rae at the Seaford Hotel in the months leading to her death, with both at times appearing seriously drug-affected
The hearing is expected to continue until Friday.
Ms Rae was last seen in April 2015, after the 48-year-old went missing from her Frankston North home
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