The man accused of orchestrating the murder of Stockton mother Stacey Klimovitch in the doorway of her home in June will remain behind bars after he was refused bail in Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday morning.
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Stuart Daniel Campbell, 29, was arrested on Wharf Road around 11am Friday and charged with murder as part of an ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of Ms Klimovitch earlier this year.
Mr Campbell was not required to appear in Newcastle Bail Court Saturday and did not apply for bail. The matter was adjourned until January 27.
Ms Klimovitch, 61, had answered her front door on the night of June 9, around 8pm, when she was shot at point-blank range and later died at the scene.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District established Strike Force Backhouse to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Klimovitch's death and, following inquiries, charged Mr Campbell and sought the extradition of a second man, Jason Paul Hawkins, from the ACT on Friday.
Mr Hawkins appeared in ACT Magistrates Court Saturday morning where he claimed that he didn't "understand what is happening" in an unsuccessful plea for his freedom after his arrest around 6.45pm the previous night.
Police allege that Mr Campbell orchestrated the killing of Ms Klimovitch, the mother of his former partner, and that Mr Hawkins discharged the shot that killed her.
In the ACT Mr Hawkins, who appeared via audio-visual link, said he had "corroborated as much as possible" and unlocked his devices for police.
"I know the allegation is murder but there's no statement of facts or nothing," Mr Hawkins told the court. "I don't understand what's happening."
Mr Hawkins was ultimately remanded in custody with his matter adjourned until Monday when Newcastle detectives were expected to arrive in the ACT to apply for his extradition.
He was led out of the remote room while he again complained: "No statement of facts. Nothing."
Meanwhile, Newcastle Police arrested a 64-year-old Waratah West man on Thursday. Police will allege that his vehicle was used in the commissioning of the death of Stacey Klimovitch, but Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey of Newcastle Police could not say Saturday whether charges would be laid against the man.
Det. Superintendent Humphrey addressed the media in Newcastle Saturday afternoon, describing the circumstances of Ms Klimovitch's death as "horrendous"
"It doesn't get any worse than this," he said, "In front of a daughter and a grandchild. There is no such thing as a good murder, but this was just horrendous."
He publicly congratulated detectives on their ongoing investigations.
- with reporting from the Canberra Times
Simon McCarthy
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
Simon McCarthy is a journalist working at the Newcastle Herald in NSW. He writes news and features, and produces video and multimedia, for the Herald and Herald Weekender magazine. He contributes regularly to the Newcastle Herald’s daily Topics column, and is the co-creator and producer of the Toohey’s News podcast. McCarthy has worked as a journalist in regional NSW since 2013. He joined the newsroom of the Newcastle Herald in 2017 from the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he worked from 2015 to 2016.
