Suspect faces court, victim undergoes multiple surgeries for severed arm
Police tracked down Desmond Avery after he spent 24 hours on the run, found hiding inside the lounge room of a property nearby.
He’s accused of violently storming the home of a Kingscliff grandfather with Trae Laurie on Tuesday night.
Avery and Laurie allegedly broke into 66-year-old Alan Kerr’s home, striking him multiple times with an axe. Police say Kerr then stabbed Laurie to death while Avery allegedly fled the scene.
“The evidence we have gathered so far clearly indicates that there is evidence to suggest that Mr Kerr was acting in self defence,” Matt Zimmer from NSW Police said.
After Avery was found, he was searched and escorted in the back of a paddy wagon to the Tweed Heads police station.
He was charged on Wednesday night with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence.
He appeared in court via video link from the police station on Thursday, where he repeatedly asked the magistrate for an adjournment to Monday so that he could obtain legal advice.
The matter will also be mentioned in court on Friday for a forensic procedure to be heard.
Police are yet to formally interview Kerr, who has had to undergo multiple surgeries and remains at the Gold Coast University Hospital.