Court Acquits Partner Accused of Murdering Man Due to Jealousy

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An accused murderer embroiled in a complicated love triangle cannot be convicted because of a lack of evidence, a defence barrister says.

Gofal Baziad, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the 2004 murder of Jason Palmer, the ex-husband of his on-again-off-again partner Remmy.

Baziad left Australia for five years about a month after Palmer’s body was found in the Nepean River with substantial torso wounds.

Gofal Baziad is accused of murdering Jason Palmer, so he could continue a relationship with his wife Renny. (9News)

But Baziad’s barrister told a NSW Supreme Court jury today the prosecution’s circumstantial case did not have enough evidence to find the love rival responsible for Palmer’s death.

In her opening remarks to the jury, Madeleine Avenell SC emphasized the complexity of the case, noting, “There will be a lot of witnesses and a lot of detail.” However, she cautioned, “You won’t be able to be positively satisfied of the ultimate question: has the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Baziad was the person responsible?”

Avenell explained that Jason and Remmy Palmer were married and shared a “somewhat intertwined” life with the accused, Baziad. The nature of the relationship between Baziad and Palmer prior to Palmer’s ex-husband’s death will be explored through evidence presented during the trial, she added.

The jury was informed that Baziad departed Australia on March 28, 2004, and did not return until 2009. The reasons behind his prolonged absence are anticipated to be a contentious issue in the proceedings, Avenell noted.

But the exact nature of Baziad’s relationship with Palmer before her ex-husband’s death would be subject to evidence in the trial, the defence barrister said.

Baziad left Australia on March 28, 2004 and did not return until 2009, the jury heard.

Why he left the country and did not return for so long is expected to be a matter of dispute in the trial, Avenell said.

Police allegeï»¿ Jason Palmer was murdered by a 52-year-old man who had been in a relationship with his wife. (Supplied)

Palmer also left the country and was in a subsequent relationship with Baziad for many years, the jury was told.

Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said Baziad was a jealous man who tended to act violently when he saw Palmer with another male.

Evidence is expected to be given that Baziad attacked a man in a hardware store carpark, with whom Palmer was having a relationship after leaving Baziad in 2018.

Palmer is expected to testify at trial that she always had strong feelings for her ex-husband and wanted to make him jealous through her relationship with Baziad.

In December 2003, the trio met to discuss the situation, and Palmer was asked to choose between the men.

When she chose her former husband, Baziad indicated he accepted the decision, Hatfield said.

However, Palmer was seen for the last time months later, walking out of his partner’s home in Sydney’s south west with his friend Baziad on February 6, 2004.

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