Australia: Killer thief dressed up as a Muslim woman to access the ATM account of a man he had killed

A Gold Coast man who teamed up with a prostitute to fatally rob an interstate tourist later dressed as a woman to access the dead victim's bank account, a court has heard.

24-year-old Benjamin Samy Ghobrial had allegedly fled the Varsity Lakes unit where the naked and bound body of West Australian man Gregory John Hudson was found in October 23 last year.

'I think I've killed this guy,' Ghobrial told a witness, according to a sworn police statement filed in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

'He just wouldn't shut up, so I kept punching him and punching him.'

Ghobrial was apparently high on ice and Xanax, and according to police documents, he put on female Muslim clothing before using Mr Hudson's keycard to withdraw $1000 from an ATM.

He redrew another $1000 from the account only two days later while dressed in different women's clothing, according to documents summarised aloud by the judge at Ghobrial's unsuccessful bail application on Friday.

Mr Hudson, 57, was cashed-up when he arrived at a friend's glitter strip residence after quitting his mining industry job just four days before his death.

According to police he indulged in cocaine and prostitutes, which led to a fateful brothel meeting with sex worker Milan Walker.

The pair arranged a house call but Walker had more than sex on her mind, say police, who claim to have found incriminating text messages between her and Ghobrial.

Mr Hudson's friend came home to find his guest lying naked and prone in an upstairs bedroom, with a D-shaped stiletto mark on his left buttock and his hands loosely tied behind his back with a computer cable.
His face was bruised and a bloodstained sock lay nearby and, the court heard.

At least two computers, a large bag of cocaine and Mr Hudson's wallet were missing.

An autopsy revealed that high levels of cocaine in Mr Hudson's system probably contributed to his death, along with his abnormal position, possible gagging and impaired breathing caused by an enlarged heart.

Ghobrial, Walker and alleged accomplice Lee Feld face charges of manslaughter, robbery in company and burglary, while Ghobrial is also charged with two counts of stealing and one of attempted stealing.

Justice Peter Flanagan refused bail despite an offer of $150,000 surety, amid claims Ghobrial threatened to harm two potential Crown witnesses.

The judge said there was a 'real risk' he could interfere with witnesses if released on bail.





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