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‘Andrew, please’: Jury told of woman’s chilling last cry as her estranged husband pleads not guilty to murder

Blake AntrobusNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

A woman allegedly murdered by her estranged husband as she took the bins out was heard on security audio screaming and pleading for her life, a jury has been told.

The chilling audio of Kym Cobby’s final moments will be played to a Supreme Court jury as her estranged husband Andrew John Cobby stands trial charged with her murder.

Graphic photos of the woman’s bloodied body – found sprawled out on the driveway of her hinterland Gold Coast home – were shown to the jury on the first day of Mr Cobby’s trial.

Andrew John Cobby (pictured) pleaded not guilty at Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to murdering his estranged wife Kym in November 2017.
Camera IconAndrew John Cobby (pictured) pleaded not guilty at Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to murdering his estranged wife Kym in November 2017. Credit: Supplied

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On Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.

During his opening, crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy told the jury Ms Cobby’s body was discovered by her brother-in-law Craig Robert Eden outside her Worongary home late in the evening on November 12, 2017.

“Kym Cobby had been choked, asphyxiated and left for dead,” Mr McCarthy said.

At the time, Mr Cobby lived at a different address in Southport and the pair had been separated for years.

A post-mortem examination found Ms Cobby also had a serious laceration on her head.

Mr McCarthy said a damaged hammer was found near her body.

“You will be invited to conclude there is a symmetrical match between the shape of the injury in Ms Cobby’s scalp and the hammer recovered,” Mr McCarthy told the jury.

“The crown contends it was used in the attack on Ms Cobby that ended her life.”

Kym Cobby’s bloodied body was found outside her Worongary home in 2017.
Camera IconKym Cobby’s bloodied body was found outside her Worongary home in 2017. Credit: Supplied

Mr McCarthy said audio from a neighbour’s security camera captured a woman screaming “Andrew, please” at 11pm that evening before the screams abruptly stopped.

The jury was told Ms Cobby’s body was discovered 12 minutes later by her brother-in-law as he returned home from work.

“The crown contends Mr Eden’s approximate arrival interrupted the defendant’s escape from the incident,” Mr McCarthy said.

“The recording you will hear is of the last moments of Kym Cobby’s life as she is killed.”

Mr McCarthy said Mr Cobby was found by police at 2.20am at a nearby address.

He urged the jurors to reject his account of an “attack” by an unknown assailant where he was hit in the head and his wife killed.

During police interviews, Mr Cobby told officers he and his wife were being extorted.

The court was told Mr Cobby had headed up investments made by other people that had not been returned, with some going to police to claim they had been defrauded.

Defence barrister Tony Kimmins told the jury the prosecution case was based on “circumstantial” evidence against his client and it was on the crown to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“If there is any reasonable possibility of innocence, it is your duty to find Andrew Cobby not guilty,” Mr Kimmins said.

He said the jury would have “great problems” being satisfied Mr Cobby murdered his ex-wife.

More than 50 witnesses including police, neighbours and family members will be called to give evidence.

The trial before Justice Peter Callaghan is expected to run for three weeks.

Originally published as ‘Andrew, please’: Jury told of woman’s chilling last cry as her estranged husband pleads not guilty to murder

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