A man shot dead at his Watson unit was targeted by two brothers as retribution after he went to police about a violent home invasion triggered by a botched drug deal, court documents allege.
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Eden Waugh, 37, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to his chest when police were called to his Windeyer Street government housing unit shortly before 8pm on November 3.
Fresh details of his alleged murder emerged in court when a Queanbeyan woman accused of stashing the murder weapon for her two brothers, Jason Pikula-Carroll, 21, and Tavake Lee Pikula, 31, was arrested in Karabar on Tuesday.
Leanne Pikula, 26, was extradited from NSW and charged in the ACT Magistrates Court with being an accessory after the fact to murder. She did not enter a plea.
The court was told police had spoken to her two brothers, who were already in jail in separate NSW prisons for other alleged offences, but neither had yet been charged in relation to the shooting death.
A police statement of facts, tendered in court, said Waugh and his partner had a falling out with Pikula-Carroll that turned violent after one of his associates knocked on the door of their unit demanding drugs the morning of September 22 last year.
The couple refused to give him any drugs, allegedly sparking a string of threats from Pikula-Carroll.
He allegedly stormed the unit with two other men, armed with a shotgun, machete and a metal bar, a couple of hours later.
The men demanded drugs and cash before hacking at Waugh's arm with the knife and fleeing.
Waugh and his partner reported the incident to police.
The two brothers allegedly used a crowbar to break down the door of the unit with their faces covered while the couple was inside on November 3.
Waugh was fatally shot in the chest at close range with a 12-gauge shotgun during a struggle.
The brothers allegedly fled to Deanne Pikula's house in Karabar, where they left the gun. Police allege Pikula later disposed of the weapon, which has not been found.
Police intercepted phone conversations between the accused and Pikula-Carroll where she allegedly told her brother she had put the gun "somewhere very safe", prompting him to reply: "Good, I'm going to need it when I get out."
Pikula is then alleged to have said: "I don't know about that, it's a bit too safe."
Prosecutor Anthony Williamson opposed Pikula's bail application and argued there was an unacceptable risk Pikula would commit further offences that could obstruct the administration of justice, or interfere with evidence and witnesses.
He said police concerns stemmed from allegations Pikula had helped conceal the gun, agreed to track down and intimidate a witness into not giving evidence, spoken to one of her brothers about a false alibi and lied to police.
Detective Senior Constable Matt Challenger, led by Mr Williamson, gave evidence Pikula had been banned from entering NSW correctional facilities after she tried to smuggle drugs to one of her brothers in jail.
He said Pikula was "very close" to her two brothers, who had set up a criminal cartel, largely made up of family members and friends, known to carry out drug deals and home invasions in the ACT and NSW.
The court heard there was no suggestion Pikula had committed offences as part of that group.
Her defence lawyer argued the prosecution case against his client was weak, noting Pikula couldn't visit her brothers in jail and prison phone calls were recorded.
He said any concerns Pikula would contact them or other witnesses could be mitigated by strict bail conditions.
Magistrate Beth Campbell refused bail.
Pikula cried as she was remanded in custody. The case returns to court on March 21.
