The man accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy allegedly abandoned him in secluded bushland after allegedly cutting him with a knife, a court has been told.
Emergency services were called to Wilton Park Rd in Wilton about 7.25am on Saturday and found the body of the Picton boy lying in bushland adjacent to the road.
Jacob Greig was arrested after attending Narellan Police Station shortly after 4pm on Saturday following a public appeal for information.
He was charged with murder and refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Police allege the murder took place between 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, according to court documents.
Greig appeared via live video stream, and three of his family members attended in person.
The court was told Greig had been in Maldon Weir with his friend when the 15-year-old boy attempted to open the rear passenger door of a vehicle Greig was in, ripping off the handle.
Video and audio of the incident allegedly captured the teen saying, “I’m trying to get home.”
Jacob Greig (pictured) has been charged with the alleged murder of a 15-year-old boy
On Sunday, the 32-year-old stood in front of the court. Photo: facebook
At some point, Greig exited the vehicle and magistrate Robert Rabbidge said the footage had allegedly captured Mr Greig saying: “I’ll get you good.”
The teenager allegedly ripped off Mr Greig’s glasses, and the 32-year-old allegedly said: “I’m going to cut off your bloody hand,” the court was told.
Greig allegedly told police he “cut the victim before returning to the vehicle,” Rabbidge said.
However, the court was told the footage allegedly showed Mr Greig chasing the victim on foot.
“The facts indicate that prior to the injury… the accused had threatened to kill the young man and cut off his hand,” Mr Rabbidge said.
Sawdust is shown on the road on Wilton Park Rd, near where the 15-year-old boy’s body was found.
Flowers have been laid on Wilton Park Rd.
He said the boy was “bleeding profusely” after he was allegedly cut with the knife.
“It seems like a very strong case, I recognize that after having cut the young man with the knife causing the victim to suffer… a severe laceration to the right forearm… the victim begins to bleed profusely,” the magistrate said.
The teen allegedly tried to jump on the car but fell while driving away, and his friends found him dead the next morning.
The court was told a trail of blood was found extending about 30 meters towards the end of Wilton Rd.
“The accused has decided to leave the victim lying in a secluded area… abandoned to die,” Mr Rabbidge said.
“Much would depend on the autopsy, which has not yet been performed, but I take note of the facts where it says that at 7:30 the next morning the victim’s friends walked out of the field… they found the victim covered in blood.” .
Mr Greig’s aunt broke down crying outside the courtroom
Another of Greig’s relatives appeared in court on Sunday.
He said there is “nothing more serious than the alleged murder of a 15-year-old boy.”
‘The facts are quite extraordinary and appear to show a considerable amount of powerful evidence.
“This is clearly an extraordinary case… Mr. Greig faces many decades in prison,” the magistrate said of the allegations, if proven.
“I must do my duty to the community and deny him bail.”
Police prosecutor McCormack said a blood-stained knife was found in a bin.
“I know that the victim… was covered in a significant amount of blood in a grassy area,” McCormack told the court, with a blood trail “extending possibly 30 meters down the road… to the end of “Wilton Park.” ‘
Mr Greig’s relatives sat inside Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Lawyer Javid Faiz represented Greig in court on Sunday
Mr Greig’s aunt and two other family members appeared distraught during the proceedings, and the aunt broke down crying just outside the courtroom.
Defense lawyer Javid Faiz proposed a condition of house arrest, noting that the circumstances are “tragic.”
“I respectfully submit this, it is a tragic incident, whatever happened, and it is tragic that it happened to a 15-year-old boy,” Mr Faiz said.
He questioned whether the cause of death is the alleged crime committed by Mr Greig, noting that “there was obviously some impact” after the victim jumped onto the car, driven by another person.
“We know there is some blood… about 30 meters from the road, we can see there is blood, but it is not clear… (whether it is) the result of a laceration or the result of the impact,” Faiz said.
“I propose a condition of house arrest that means that he cannot leave his residence in the absence of his aunt.”
Police swarmed an area southwest of Sydney after the body of a teenager was found in bushland on Wilton Park Rd in Wilton on Saturday.
The boy had been camping with a group of about 12 teenagers, police said.
Mr Greig’s partner is expected to give birth to their son in a month, and his partner suffers from health problems including autism and panic disorder.
Mr Greig works as a chef at Bargo Sports Bar while his partner is unemployed.
“The instructions I have been given are for him to be solely responsible for the care of the family,” Mr Faiz told the court.
—If they don’t release him today, Your Honor, that family will be affected.
“This puts a lot of stress on the family and he is the only provider.”
Mr Greig was refused bail and will next appear in a Campbelltown court on January 8, 2025.
Superintendent Tim Calaman told reporters Saturday that a group of about 12 teenagers had been camping in the area overnight.
None are accused of any crime.
Police believe the incident occurred on Friday night, but were not notified until 7.35am the following day.
The superintendent said it was a tragic event and his thoughts were with the boy’s family.
“The family and some friends are going to have a very hard time this afternoon as they go through this process,” he said.
The boy’s family was notified of his death on Saturday.