AN elderly businessman plotting the murder of a woman he hated paid an undercover policeman a $10,000 deposit to carry out the killing, thinking he was a hitman, a court has been told.
Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, has been charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of murder, after the alleged plan was uncovered by West Australian police in September.
In Perth's Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Attwell had a bail application refused by magistrate Jan Whitbread, who said she considered there was still a potential risk to the safety of the intended victim.
The court heard Attwell, a prominent businessman from Albany on WA's south coast, had a vitriolic and angry grudge against the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
It will be alleged Attwell raised the possibility of a contract killing with a man he was interviewing for a job at his earth-moving business, who subsequently contacted police.
Detectives tasked an undercover officer to pose as a potential hitman, with Attwell meeting him twice to discuss the plot.
Prosecutors will allege Attwell told the undercover officer, who recorded the meetings, he wanted to "put somebody to sleep", he wanted her strangled to avoid leaving any blood evidence, and he would use earth-moving equipment from his business to dig a 30 foot (9.1 metre) hole to put her body in.
He also suggested she could be burned in her car.
At the first meeting, it will be alleged Attwell gave $7,000 to the officer as part payment for the hit.
It will also be alleged the undercover officer was handed details of the woman's car registration, her home address and her favourite coffee shops. Attwell also gave him another $3,000 for the hit.
Attwell was arrested in October, and has been in custody ever since.
Barrister Belinda Lonsdale argued that Attwell, who suffers from diabetes, heart disease and suspected frontal lobe dementia, should be given bail because his advanced age and medical condition meant he posed no risk of escape or committing further offences.
But prosecutor Sandra De Maio said the level of anger towards the victim was such that no bail condition imposed on Attwell could guarantee her safety.
"Her safety remains a significant concern," Ms De Maio said.
"He did everything he could to have this girl killed. He made contact with someone he thought could do it. And he paid them a $10,000 cash deposit."
Magistrate Whitbread agreed, saying Attwell's medical condition was being well treated in Albany regional prison.
Wheelchair-bound Attwell, who intends to plead not guilty to the charge, will next appear in court on March 27.
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