Vic: Man to stand trial over the murder of a former physio

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2005
Vic: Man to stand trial over the murder of a former physio

MELBOURNE, April 11 AAP - A man will stand trial over the murder of a former physiotherapist
who died last year after being dragged from a dam at Somerville, south of Melbourne.

Mark James Hill, 28, of Rosebud, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder at a committal
hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

The court heard 22-year-old Adrian James Scholes, a former physiotherapist and dux
of his school, died last May from extensive skull fractures.

Shortly before his death, Scholes had struck up a friendship with a former girlfriend
of Hill's, police said in a statement of evidence tendered to court.

Police said Hill, a university student, had wanted to resume his relationship with
the woman and told her he would take his life following their separation in late 2003.

Police allege Hill confronted Scholes at the gate to his parents property in Bungower
Road, Somerville, shortly after 3am (AEST) on Thursday May 27.

During an altercation, Hill punched Scholes and hit him a number of times with a blunt
instrument before driving away, police said.

Hill later burnt the weapon he used to assault the dead man and blood-stained items
of clothing, police said.

The victim's father, David Scholes, found his son in a dam at a neighbouring property,
shortly after 6.30am (AEST), according to a witness statement tendered to the court.

In the statement, David Scholes said his son appeared dizzy and was spinning about in the water.

"I could see Adrian's head in the water and he was moving about," he said.

"I could hear him making noises, but I couldn't make out what he was saying."

Police said Scholes died two hours after he was retrieved from the dam.

Hill told officers in an interview that he had followed Hill home and assaulted him
with his fist and stick, police said.

When asked to explain Scholes' death, he said: "You know, how do I offer an explanation
for being part of something that shouldn't have happened."

Magistrate Phillip Goldberg ordered Hill, who is in custody, to appear at the Supreme
Court of Victoria on June 28.

AAP kw/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: HILL

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