Allegedly murdered man Noel Ingham took great pride in his home and garden, the Burnie Supreme Court has heard.
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On Thursday the court heard Mr Ingham, whose body was found buried in bushland at Dulverton in 2016, spent thousands on furniture and landscaping the West Ulverstone property he began renting from Housing Choices in 2014.
Crown prosecutors allege Darren Ward Gale, 54, murdered Mr Ingham, cut off his head and buried his body.
Witnesses from local furniture businesses, neighbours and the victim's sister-in-law attested in court that Mr Ingham was known for having an immaculate garden.
The court was previously told Mr Ingham was also an alcoholic.
A Jim's Mowing franchisee, who has since died, would maintain his lawns and gardens fortnightly Crown prosecutor Jody Dennison said.
And Mr Ingham's Colac Court neighbours said the gardens were a mess, full of car parts, before he moved in.
He would also ensure his two terrier dogs were regularly bathed by a dog grooming service, a neighbour told the court.
Staff from Begents furniture store in Ulverstone listed thousands of dollars worth of furniture, white goods and entertainment units Mr Ingham purchased from them between 2014 and three months before he disappeared in late July, 2016.
At the end of that month, the gardens began to fall into disrepair and his little white dogs disappeared from the West Ulverstone unit.
Mr Ingham's neighbours said they continued to see a man they knew as Darren Gale, or who matched Mr Gale's description, at the home but no trace of Mr Ingham, the dogs, or his silver Jeep Cherokee were seen at Colac Court again.
A friend of Mr Ingham's from Queensland appeared in the Burnie Supreme Court via video link, and told the court Mr Ingham would often speak about money.
He would talk about money "all the time to everyone", the friend said.
"He always made out that he had a lot of money."
He had access to his superannuation, the Crown said, and the friend from Queensland said he would often access $10,000 of that superannuation at a time.
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Sandy Powell
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
Court and crime reporter covering the West and North-West of Tasmania for the Advocate.
