Braddon murder accused pleads not guilty
A 20-year-old Canberra man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a man in Braddon last week.
Taylor Lewis Schmidt was apprehended by police in Queanbeyan yesterday and extradited to the ACT.
Today he faced the ACT Magistrates Court charged with murdering 27-year-old university graduate Liang Zhao in Braddon early last Thursday morning.
Schmidt appeared distraught and slumped in his chair as he heard Magistrate Maria Doogan charge him with murder.
Schmidt has also been charged with using a baseball bat to threaten the victim and rob him of his mobile phone and $21 in cash.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and has been remanded in custody until October.
Yesterday a 17-year-old boy was also charged with the aggravated robbery and murder of Mr Zhao.
He faced the ACT Children's Court which heard the teenager used a machete to menace the victim and rob him.
The teenager remains in custody and is due to face court again in October.
Mr Zhao's body was found outside the Northbourne Flats in Braddon about 6:40am on Thursday. He had suffered extensive and severe head injuries.
Police say he was ferociously attacked while walking along Northbourne Avenue on his way home from the Jolimont Centre.
A 20-year-old Canberra man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a man in Braddon last week.
Taylor Lewis Schmidt was apprehended by police in Queanbeyan yesterday and extradited to the ACT.
Today he faced the ACT Magistrates Court charged with murdering 27-year-old university graduate Liang Zhao in Braddon early last Thursday morning.
Schmidt appeared distraught and slumped in his chair as he heard Magistrate Maria Doogan charge him with murder.
Schmidt has also been charged with using a baseball bat to threaten the victim and rob him of his mobile phone and $21 in cash.
He has pleaded not guilty to both charges and has been remanded in custody until October.
Yesterday a 17-year-old boy was also charged with the aggravated robbery and murder of Mr Zhao.
He faced the ACT Children's Court which heard the teenager used a machete to menace the victim and rob him.
The teenager remains in custody and is due to face court again in October.
Mr Zhao's body was found outside the Northbourne Flats in Braddon about 6:40am on Thursday. He had suffered extensive and severe head injuries.
Police say he was ferociously attacked while walking along Northbourne Avenue on his way home from the Jolimont Centre.
