An accused killer strangled Andrew Carville in his own home, before rolling him in a carpet and leaving him on the tray of an abandoned car in a Sutton paddock, a court has heard.
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Milan Urlich, 30, is then alleged to have returned days later with his brother Marc Urlich, 45, to move the body, hiding it under boulders in a dry creek bed on Defence land in Majura.
Mr Carville’s badly decomposed body was discovered by police on November 19, 2015.
Milan Urlich has been charged with the November 4 murder, while Marc Urlich has been charged with being an accessory after the fact.
Both men have pleaded not guilty and went on trial before Justice John Burns in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Shane Drumgold, ACT deputy director of public prosecutions, told the court Milan Urlich - the owner of a white Landcruiser ute - had been part of a group of people involved in helping a woman move out of Mr Carville’s Evatt home.
On day two of the move, the court heard the woman became upset after finding the body of her deceased pet dog and Milan Urlich had been sent to pick her up.
Milan Urlich had helped the woman into his Landcruiser before returning to the house.
He returned about 20 minutes later and placed something heavy on the tray of the vehicle.
The prosecution alleges Milan Urlich had killed the 52-year-old during the 20 minutes, before concealing his body by wrapping it inside a rug and some blankets, and loading it onto the car.
Shortly after, the woman switched vehicles and Milan Urlich is alleged to dumped the car in the paddock of a Sutton property.
The court heard Milan Urlich had been found wandering in that area on the morning of November 5 and was taken to Queanbeyan Hospital.
He is then alleged to have checked himself out, stolen a van, and then driven to Marc Urlich’s home on Phillip Island, Victoria.
The Crown alleges the brothers then returned to Canberra where together they moved Mr Carville's body from the paddock before dumping Milan Urlich's ute at Molonglo Gorge, in Kowen Pine Forest.
The court heard police later found a branded lighter from the Westernport Hotel in the paddock.
The hotel is about 10 kilometres from Marc Urlich's house.
The ute was found on November 14 and Mr Carville's body was uncovered during a police search on November 19.
Mr Drumgold said the body had been hidden under a number of boulders, the heaviest weighed about 139 kilograms.
Another two weighed 78kgs and 73kgs.
Mr Drumgold said it would have taken at least two men to move the stones.
An autopsy could not determine the cause of death, but jurors heard Mr Carville had suffered rib fractures and injuries to his neck consistent with strangulation.
The court heard Marc Urlich’s statement to police said he had been alone, asleep, in the Ibis Styles Canberra Eaglehawk on the night he is alleged to have moved the body.
Defence barrister James Lawton, representing Milan Urlich, and James Sabharwal, for Marc Urlich, did not make an opening address to the jury.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
