News Service from House Harris

Vic: Woman tells of witnessing murder after knock at her door

MELBOURNE, Feb 18 AAP - A woman has told how a neighbour cowered on her doorstep moments before a man shot her dead.

Leoni Coates told the Melbourne Magistrates Court she heard a knock on the door of her Frankston home and a female voice saying "help me".

When Ms Coates opened the door she saw a woman she knew as Tracey, who lived two doors down, cowering on the doorstep. A man was standing over her, pointing a gun at her.

"I then heard a loud pop and I shut my eyes," Ms Coates said in her witness statement.

Leigh Robinson, 60, of Pearcedale, has been charged with murdering mother-of-two Tracey Greenbury, 33, on April 28 last year.

The court was told that Robinson had told a couple he'd argued with Ms Greenbury, with whom he had shared an "up-and-down" relationship, and had chased her and shot her.

Lianne Wear said Robinson visited her and her husband Mark Wear later that day and admitted he was "in trouble".

Mrs Wear said television news bulletins were reporting a man was wanted over a shooting and she knew the suspect was Robinson.

Robinson spent the night with her and her husband, the court was told. But the couple did not want him at their house because it was too unsafe and he had a sawn-off shotgun.

In the morning, Mr Wear helped Robinson dispose of his ute at a nearby reserve before the pair drove around for nine hours.

Mrs Wear said in her witness statement that she was "hysterical" when she could not reach her husband on his mobile phone.

"I thought it was possible Leigh may have killed Mark," she said.

Mrs Wear said she rang police after a family member advised her to.

She said she still feared retribution from Robinson's friends for helping police.

Mr Wear told the court he had asked Robinson what happened.

"He'd said he went to Tracey's house," he said.

"She came out, he was in the car.

"She's seen the gun and he took off after her.

"He chased her and that's when he shot her."

Mr Wear said Robinson previously told him he'd been seeing Ms Greenbury but the relationship had cooled.

"You could tell Leigh still had feelings for her," he said.

Mr Wear said Robinson had talked about surrendering to police but was undecided.

Mr Wear said he eventually dropped Robinson off at Hallam Square off the Princess Highway. He later learned Robinson was arrested that night.

The committal hearing continues on Thursday.