A MOREE man has been released on bail and ordered not to leave town after he was charged in connection to a Sydney murder investigation.
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Detectives allege Leslie David Fernando was behind the wheel of a getaway car after the violent bashing at a unit block in Sydney.
The state's homicide squad have been investigating the bashing death of 42-year-old Vergel Velasquez. He died in a Sydney hospital a day after being found with severe head injuries in a stairwell of a Girraween unit block on December 30.
In a breakthrough in the case, 49-year-old Fernando was arrested in Moree on Thursday during a series of raids by homicide detectives.
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He is accused being an accessory after the fact for wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Friday where his bid for release was granted by magistrate Peter Thompson with several conditions.
He was not required to enter a plea to the charge and will have to appear in Parramatta Local Court in July.
As part of his bail, Fernando must report daily to police in Moree and live at a court-ordered address in the town. He must remain under a nighttime curfew; not contact any prosecution witnesses in the case and must not leave the Moree district, unless permission is granted in writing from police.
He also had to post $1000 in surety to secure his release.
During the raids on Thursday, officers seized mobiles phones and a number of items they claim are relevant to the investigation.
Homicide detectives have been in Moree on and off for several weeks as part of the murder probe.
The charges were laid after investigations initially led detectives to Moree on April 27 when a getaway car was seized. Then, in early May when 42 mobile phones were seized during a separate raid.
Investigations have been ongoing since Mr Velasquez was found with severe head injuries in the stairwell of a Girraween complex in Sydney on December 30 last year.
He died in a Sydney hospital the next day.
Strike Force Brallo investigations continue.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
