We're going to make things right

By Newcastle Supreme Court

May 10, 2012, 10:05 a.m.

SHOT DEAD: Joshua Maynard.

Chad Ross Shedden told a Raymond Terrace resident his friend had been bashed and he was “going to make things right” an hour before he shot dead Joshua Maynard one street away, a court heard yesterday.

Andrew Noel Vennell of Salamander Place, told the Newcastle Supreme Court jury of five men and seven women he was awoken by the sound of his dog barking on June 29, 2010.

When he went to investigate, Mr Vennell said he saw a group of four men sitting on his front lawn and a man standing next to his car.

The man, who he described as wearing a beanie, jacket, hoodie, jeans and work boots, told him: “My friend has been bashed, we’re going to make it right. We’re going to wait here. Do you want to leave it at that?”

Mr Vennell offered to call an ambulance and the man, who he confirmed was Shedden, allegedly declined and apologised for waking him.

Shedden, 34, was concealing something inside his hoodie front pocket, Mr Vennell told the court, something “bulky” and horizontal.

Shedden began walking toward the nearby Mount Hall Road with seven other men at 11.55pm.

As they continued along the street the group woke many residents, who gave evidence yesterday.

One of Mr Vennell’s elderly neighbours, Beverly O’Brien, told the court she saw a group of men in their 20s walking up the road.

She said she heard “a small blast” in the direction of Mount Hall Road and after five minutes saw the same group running back down the street, one repeating “f—”.

Ms O’Brien found an iron post on her front lawn the following day and when forensics arrived to collect it they found a knife nearby.

Links Drive resident, John Keith Crawford told the court he was in his lounge room when he heard an “almighty bang” that shook his front windows.