Burning Drums Hide Remains From Bikers

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday May 20, 2008

By VERONICA APAP

WHILE mountain biking in the Tomerong State Forest on a Sunday morning two years ago, a couple noticed two 44-gallon drums with flames and smoke rising out of them.

They called the State Emergency Service to report the drums and continued on their way.

Later, the Rural Fire Brigade discovered the drums contained bodies, still smouldering.

The first barrel held a badly burnt body in a squatting position with the head against the edge. In the second, there were badly burnt skeletal remains.

The fire damaged the bodies so badly, no official cause of death could be determined.

Details of the grisly find on January 29, 2006, were revealed in the NSW Supreme Court in Wollongong yesterday during opening statements in the trials of Kim Leanne Snibson and Andrew Wayne Flentjar.

The remains were those of Kathryn McKay and her husband Gregory Hosa who were last seen the day before.

The couple owned a 30ha property, Champagne Shires, at Nowra Hill, just a one-minute drive from Snibson's Calymea St home. They ran a horse agistment business and Snibson was one of their clients.

Crown prosecutor Paul Leask said he expected to call evidence that showed Mr Hosa received a phone call from Snibson's phone at 4.59pm on January 28.

He had driven to her house where Snibson, Flentjar and Stacey Lea-Caton were waiting for him.

Mr Leask said Mr Hosa was struck in the head with a blunt object upon entering the house and then hog-tied. A sock had been stuffed into his mouth before Snibson's phone was used to call Ms McKay.

The Crown alleged Ms McKay came to Snibson's home and the scenario was repeated: she was overpowered, hog-tied and gagged.

The couple's faces were also wrapped in tape.

The Crown alleges that while Lea-Caton waited with the defenceless couple, Snibson and Flentjar took Ms McKay's Magna back to Champagne Shires and stole two green 44-gallon drums.

When Flentjar and Snibson returned, Snibson allegedly wrapped packing tape around Ms McKay's nose and mouth, then all three waited until she died by asphyxiation. Then, using electrical wire, Snibson allegedly strangled Mr Hosa.

The location of the bodies was significant, Mr Leask said. The court heard Snibson's ex-husband would testify that the bodies were found in an area where Snibson used to walk her dogs.

Police later found Ms McKay's handbag and the lids of the drums at Flentjar's home, Mr Leask said.

The trial continues today.

Lea-Caton, 28, is serving 22 years' jail for aiding and abetting murder.