Pool of blood, drag marks found in missing mother’s house

Murdok’s attorney Rodney Keyte said the case against his client was weak despite the seriousness of the charges, which included counts of kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson related to domestic violence.

Based on the circumstantial evidence, Keyte said he highly doubted the case would survive the admissions phase and asked what connected his client to the scene.

On bail, police prosecutors argued they had a “very strong and very strong” case against Murdok.

Officers found a pool of blood on the bathroom floor and scuff marks on the floor, which indicated the victim was bleeding profusely and was unconscious, prosecutors said.

Fearing for her own safety, Sleeman believed Murdok could not attempt to kill her until January 23, the court heard.

Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told reporters earlier Thursday that Sleeman was “quite distraught and upset” about the call to police about the burglary, but there was no indication she or anyone at the property was under any immediate threat.

Asked whether the outcome might have been different if police had responded sooner than within half an hour, Smith said he thinks officers responded in a reasonable time.

“After she left the police station in connection with a statement of violating the domestic violence order, other police officers had contacted her to offer assistance. [they] I was just going over a few things about the person of interest,” he said.

“During that call, she came home and said to this officer that someone had broken into her home and Triple Zero had been called.”

Police suspect what happened to Sleeman was planned.

“Some of the evidence we received last night suggests that what happened was no coincidence. It was something that had been planned for a while,” Smith said.

“There were clear signs of violence at the crime scene and how these special items found in this home are the subject of forensic investigation.”

Smith said there was evidence Murdok had allegedly been in the area near his mother’s house recently and said Murdok was a “very smart person”. So far, the police had provided only a few details of the evidence.

“What happened,” Smith said, was “well thought out and well planned.”

He said the blue Honda Jazz that police were looking for this week was still missing, but officers now believed the car had no license plates.

The car was last seen at the intersection of Paradise Road and Kingston Road in Logan Central around 5.50pm on Tuesday.

“If anyone sees a blue Jazz with no license plates, ring Triple Zero — we need to find Wendy before it’s too late,” Smith said.

Police continued their investigations in the South Brisbane, Gold Coast and Logan regions, with a major search in Logan focusing on the area between Durack and Inala.

With AAP