A MARATHON police interview raised doubts for detectives over whether Harley Hicks acted alone in the suspected break-in and murder of baby Zayden Veal.
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Hicks told police when he was first arrested on June 19, last year, that an acquaintance, Aiden Charles Kirby, of Long Gully, committed the break-in.
Kirby has not been arrested or charged.
Detective Senior Constable Tom Harper told a committal hearing on Wednesday Hicks remained the key suspect in relation to the break-in and the murder of Zayden.
But he said after a two-day interview on June 19 and 20, 2012, Hicks was treated as a “person of interest”, rather than a suspect.
He said his view of what happened on the day of Zayden’s death changed based on Hicks' account, and his response to more than 1400 questions.
"I was not persuaded there was a second person involved but at that stage it sounded feasible,” Detective Harper said. “He (Hicks) certainly painted a picture of Kirby's involvement."
Defence counsel acting for Hicks, David Hallowes, argued that made a major difference in the case.
"I put it to you that it was likely there was a second person in the case," he said to Detective Harper.
"That changes the complexion of the matter."
He said Detective Harper had also made an oversight by not informing Hicks that he was being interviewed in relation to a possible murder.
Detective Harper said he did not make reference to the possibility of a murder charge but made it clear in the police interview Hicks was being treated as a suspect in a crime where an infant had died.
Kirby gave evidence to the committal hearing on Wednesday that he was at home on the day of the break-in.
He said he had been in bed by 12.30am on the day and was not involved in any burglaries.