Teen’s four word plea before alleged murder

A teenager camping with his friends pleaded he was just “trying to get home” before he was allegedly murdered in secluded bushland, a court has been told.

Jacob Greig, accused of murdering the 15-year-old boy, appeared at Parramatta Local Court via videolink on Sunday, with three of his family members attending in person.

The court was told Mr Greig had been at Maldon Weir with his friend when the 15-year-old boy tried to open the rear passenger door of a vehicle Mr Greig was in on the evening of November 8, ripping the handle off.

Video and audio of the incident allegedly captured the teenager saying he was “trying to get home”, the court was told.

At some point Mr Greig got out of the vehicle, with Magistrate Robert Rabbidge saying footage had allegedly captured Mr Greig saying “I’ll f***ing get you good”.

The teenager allegedly knocked Mr Greig’s glasses off in a scuffle, with the 32-year-old allegedly saying “I’m going to chop your f***ing hand off”, the court was told.

Mr Greig allegedly told police he “slashed the victim before returning to the vehicle”, Mr Rabbidge said.

However, the court was told footage allegedly showed Mr Greig pursuing the victim on foot.

“The facts indicate that the matter prior to injury … The accused had threatened to kill the young person and chop his hand,” Mr Rabbidge said.

He said the boy was “bleeding profusely” after allegedly being slashed with the knife.

“It appears a very strong case, I acknowledge that having slashed the young person with the knife causing the victim to sustain … severe laceration in the right forearm … victim starts to bleed profusely,” the magistrate said.

The teenager allegedly tried to jump on the car but fell off as it drove away, with his friends finding him dead the following morning.

The court was told a trail of blood extending about 30m towards the end of Wilton Rd was found.

“The accused has decided to leave the victim to lie in a secluded area … left to die,” Mr Rabbidge said.

“Much would depend on the post mortem, which is yet to take place, but I do note the facts where it says at 7.30am the following morning the victim’s friends have walked from the camp … found the victim covered in blood.”

He said there is “nothing more serious than the alleged murder of a 15-year-old”. 

“The facts are quite extraordinary and seem to show a considerable amount of powerful evidence.

“It’s clearly an extraordinary case … Mr Greig is looking at many decades in prison,” the magistrate said of the allegations, if proven.

“I must do my duty to the community and refuse him bail.”

Police prosecutor McCormack said a bloodstained knife was found in a bin.

“I know that the victim … was covered in a significant amount of blood in a grass area,” McCormack told the court, with a trail of blood “extending possibly 30m down the roadway … down the end of Wilton Park.”

Mr Greig’s aunt and two other family members appeared distressed during the proceedings, with the aunt breaking down in tears just outside the courtroom.

Defence lawyer Javid Faiz proposed a home detention condition, noting that the circumstances are “tragic”.

“I respectfully submit this, it’s a tragic incident whatever’s occurred, and it’s tragic it’s occurred to a 15-year-old,” Mr Faiz said.

He questioned whether the cause of death is the alleged offending by Mr Greig, noting “some impact has obviously occurred” after the victim jumped on the car, driven by another person.

“We know that there’s some blood … about 30m from the roadway, we can see that there’s blood, it’s just not clear …(whether it is a) result of laceration or result of impact,” Mr Faiz said.

“I propose a home detention condition which means he can’t leave his residence in absence of his aunty.”

Mr Greig’s partner is expected to give birth to their child in a month, with his partner suffering health conditions including autism and panic disorder.

Mr Greig is employed as a chef at Bargo Sports Bar while his partner is unemployed.

“Instructions I’ve been provided is that he provides the sole care for the family,” Mr Faiz told the court on Sunday.

“If he’s not to be released today, Your Honour, that family will be impacted.

“Lot of stress in the family as a result of this, and he’s the sole provider.”

Mr Greig was refused bail and is next set to front a Campbelltown court on January 8, 2025.

Emergency services rushed to Wilton Park Rd in Wilton about 7.25am on Saturday and found the Picton boy’s body lying in bushland adjacent to the road.

Jacob Greig was arrested after he attended Narellan Police Station shortly after 4pm on Saturday following a public appeal for information.

Police allege the murder took place between 10pm and 10.30pm on Friday November 8, according to court documents.

Superintendent Tim Calaman told reporters on Saturday a group of about 12 teenagers had been camping in the area overnight.

None are accused of wrongdoing.

Superintendent Calaman said it was a tragic event and his thoughts were with the boy’s family.

“The family and certain friends will be doing it tough this afternoon as they go through this process,” he said.

The boy’s family were notified of his death on Saturday.