Ex-partner’s alleged assault upgraded to murder
The charge against the man accused of running his ex-partner’s car off the road on the Gold Coast and bashing her while she was trapped in the wreckage has been upgraded to murder.
Former bikie Lionel Patea was initially charged with attempting to kill Tara Brown, 24, after the alleged attack at Molendinar last Tuesday.
Ms Brown died in hospital the following day.
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The charge against the former Bandido was upgraded this morning when he appeared in a Gold Coast court via video link.
His defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum told the court a psychiatrist was scheduled to speak with Patea in prison this Friday.
Magistrate Colin Strofield ordered the police brief of evidence be disclosed to the defence on October 14.
The case has been adjourned until November 11, when Patea is scheduled to again appear via video link.
– ABC