Man was involved in his boss's murder plan, jury says

The 29-year-old is accused of murdering Ms Wilkinson. He helped her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston, 37, by driving him to their Gold Coast home after they had bought a 20-litre jerry can of petrol together.

The jury was shown a video of a formal interview Bell conducted with detectives on July 20, 2021, in which he said Johnston “mentioned several times that he wanted to kill Kelly” and “tie her up and burn her.”

Bell told Detective Sergeant David Moore and Detective Senior Constable Prue Donald that he did not confront Wilkinson when he made such comments up to 15 times a day.

He said this was because he had become homeless after trying to find mining work in remote Queensland.

“I had to work. I was (camping outside) in the bush. I had just lost my driver's license. He's my boss,” Bell said.

He said he accepted an offer of $1,000 from Johnston to drive him around and now feels “taken advantage of.”

“We just played along. Looking back, I shouldn't have played along when he mentioned killing,” he said.

The jury was shown CCTV footage showing Bell Johnston driving to a petrol station shortly after 3am on the day of Ms Wilkinson's death and taking a red jerry can from the boot before filling it with petrol.

Bell entered the gas station to pay for gas and use cash to purchase iced tea and an energy drink from Johnston, who remained in Bell's Nissan Pulsar sedan.

Bell told investigators it “sounds bad.” He said he knew at the time why Johnston wanted the gas, but he never believed he would go through with his plan to kill Ms. Wilkinson.

“I knew his intentions, but I didn't think he would follow through. I was getting paid $1,000, he was my boss and I needed the job. I took it,” Bell said.

When Det Donald asked him why he had been thinking about this morning drive for the past three months.

“I know I was the one who could have stopped all this. Who could have stopped the whole damn thing,” Bell said.

He admitted that his previous statement was false and that he had not stopped at the gas station to fill up his car, but because Johnston had said, “Don't forget, we need to fill up the jerry can.”

Defence lawyer Edwin Whitton asked Det Moore whether he had “lubricated” Bell with cigarettes before questioning to ensure that he did not exercise his right to remain silent or his right to legal representation.

“I don’t accept that,” said Det Moore.

The trial before Judge Michael Copley continues.