When Bruce Saunders was present in a woodchipper, solely his legs had been remaining.
However Saunders was useless earlier than his physique was fed into the machine after unwittingly changing into embroiled in a "love quadrangle", the Brisbane Supreme Court docket has been instructed.
Gregory Lee Roser, 63, and Sharon Graham, 61, are on trial after being charged with the homicide of "good natured" Saunders.
Police initially believed Saunders, 54, died in an industrial accident whereas clearing a good friend's rural property close to Gympie north of Brisbane in November 2017.
When emergency crews responded to a name they discovered Saunders within the woodchipper on the Goomboorian property.
"All that was left of the physique was the legs from about simply above the knees down," crown prosecutor David Meredith instructed the jury on Monday in his opening deal with.
"It isn't the prosecution's case that he was killed by... the chipper. He was killed and put into the chipper to cover the truth that it was homicide."
Roser and Graham had been planning Saunders' homicide for as much as six months, the prosecutor mentioned.
He mentioned Graham was in a de facto relationship with Saunders after they'd met on-line, buying a home collectively.
However Saunders was "value an awesome deal extra to her useless than alive", he mentioned.
He had made out a will and brought out a life coverage in favour of Graham that was initially for $500,000 however elevated to $750,000 every week earlier than his dying, the courtroom heard.
Meredith mentioned the courtroom was anticipated to listen to a police recording of Graham calling the insurance coverage firm days after Saunders' dying inquiring about gathering the insurance coverage, telling them that police had determined it was an industrial accident.
"The prosecution says Sharon Graham had a robust motive for wanting Bruce Saunders useless," Meredith mentioned.
Graham had requested Roser to assist kill Saunders in a plan that developed over time, the prosecutor mentioned.
First they deliberate for Roser to interrupt into Saunders' Nambour home and kill him.
One other plan concerned Roser taking pictures Saunders at his office.
Lastly they determined to kill him and make it appear like an accident, bringing in one other man Peter Koenig.
Koenig pleaded responsible to accent after the actual fact to homicide in June 2022, the jury was instructed.
He's anticipated to offer proof throughout the four-week trial, saying Graham requested him and Roser to homicide Saunders, Meredith mentioned.
He mentioned Roser was finally the one who killed Saunders by hitting his head with an iron bar earlier than the physique was fed into the chipper.
Graham was residing with Saunders however on the time was in a relationship with Roser and should have additionally had "intimate relations" with Koenig.
"It is a love quadrangle as a result of Peter Koenig, Greg Roser and Bruce Saunders had been all in adore it appears not less than at some stage with Sharon Graham," Meredith mentioned.