FATHER KILLED AFTER CAR ROW
11.09.1984

QNP



Father killed after car row, court told SOUTHPORT._ A Tweed Heads sex shop owner was killed by his son during an argument over a sports car, the Southport Magistrates Court heard yesterday.
Barry James Mannix, 18, allegedly told police he ""went off the deep end'' and murdered his father, Kevin John Mannix, 40, at Palm Beach on June 22.
Barry Mannix, of Paradise Waters, has entered no plea to a charge of having murdered Kevin Mannix. In a statement tendered in court, Mannix allegedly said he gagged and bound his father after he killed him ""to make it look as if I hadn't done it''.
Mannix allegedly carried his father to the bottom of the back steps, where he cut his throat. He then went to the beach at the rear of the unit and threw the knife into the sea.
Mannix allegedly told police he took his father's Toyota Supra car and drove off towards Burleigh Heads. But he then decided not to take the car and left it, with the ignition still on, in a car park.
""I ran home. I watched a little bit of television and then went to sleep,'' Mannix allegedly said. He telephoned police the next morning to tell them he had found his father's body.
Cross-examined by Mr Des Sturgess, for Mannix, Sgt Frohmuller said he believed an argument over the purchase of a Celica sports car was the motive for the killing.
Barry Mannix had made financial arrangements to buy a car. ""I understand the deceased would not help to meet the payments,'' Sgt Frohmuller said.
Sgt Frohmuller said there was nothing to suggest that there had been a history of ill-feeling between Barry Mannix and his father.
Mr Sturgess suggested to Sgt Frohmuller that Mannix's ""so-called confession'' was inconsistent with some facts about the alleged murder.
Sgt Frohmuller agreed with Mr Sturgess that none of Mannix's Neighbours heard an argument, but they heard a thump and a groan.
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Mr R. Nolan, SM, adjourned the committal hearing until October 15 because the prosecution was awaiting results of scientific tests.