Melbourne jury rejects Rambo murder alibi

Christopher Lavery says he was watching a Rambo film when his mate was murdered – found later with a knife in his neck and his body and Jeep torched.

But a Melbourne jury on Friday decided that instead of sitting in a cinema, it was Lavery himself who killed James Russouw and robbed him of cash to help pay off a $19,000 gambling debt.

After deliberating for four days, the jury rejected Lavery’s claims he was watching a Rambo film at the time Mr Russouw was killed in 2008.

Mr Russouw, 24, was stabbed to death at East Burwood Reserve, east of Melbourne, in 2008

The pair had a history of selling cannabis up until Mr Russouw was found dead in his burning car at Burwood East Reserve.

During the 31-year-old’s four-week trial it was alleged he killed Mr Russouw and robbed him of cash to help pay off a $19,000 gambling debt.

Lavery’s cinema alibi was initially substantiated by a mate, witness A, but in March the collaborator said the killer asked to swap clothes and left the movie part-way through, and did not return.

While giving evidence witness A broke down in tears while recounting how Lavery later confessed to the crime.

‘After everyone left, Chris pulled me aside, gave me $150 … and said ‘you know what I did, don’t you’?’ witness A told the court.

‘He said ‘I set up a deal, sat in the back of the car and slit his throat, and if you ever tell anyone I’ll kill you and your family’.’

Mr Russouw (pictured) was found dead with a knife in his neck and his body and Jeep torched

Mr Russouw (pictured) was found dead with a knife in his neck and his body and Jeep torched

Defence lawyer Scott Johns argued the witness was lying after hearing of a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction in the murder case.

Other witnesses told the court of Lavery’s money troubles, including one man who said he’d witnessed the killer putting a ‘ludicrous’ amount of money into pokie machines.

The jury returned a not-guilty verdict on a charge of incitement to murder after it was alleged Lavery asked a fellow prisoner about getting a key witness in the case ‘knocked’.

Christopher Lavery, 30, (pictured) has been charged with the 2008 murder of James Russouw

Christopher Lavery, 30, (pictured) has been charged with the 2008 murder of James Russouw

A man who can only be identified as witness B told the court during the trial that Lavery had also confessed to the murder to him.

However, Mr Johns said witness B was a ‘grifter’ with a ‘silver tongue’ and had fabricated the conversation because he was also after the million-dollar reward.

Lavery will return to the court at a later date for a plea hearing before sentencing.

 

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