An alleged Canberra hit man has told a jury he wanted “no part” in the plot to murder a Newcastle grandmother.

Canberra man Jason Paul Hawkins, 48, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Stacey Klimovitch, 61, who died in the doorway of her Stockton unit on June 9, 2021.

Mr Hawkins began giving evidence, as part of his defence, in Newcastle Supreme Court yesterday.

He told the court on the night of the alleged murder he got into a car, bound for Stockton, but got out when the driver pulled over on the way there.

“As we’re driving along I see up ahead hazard lights flashing,” Mr Hawkins said.

“There was a car, a Toyota Hilux, sitting on the side of the road.

“As we pulled up … I just saw someone jump out of the back seat and all I could see was the wood butt of a firearm.

“Soon as I’ve seen that, I just said, ‘Nup, I don’t want no part of this’.

 “I opened the door and hooked it into the bushes.

Mr Hawkins said he never went to Stockton that night and had never been to the seaside suburb.

Denial during cross examination

Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield resumed his cross examination this morning.

It is the Crown’s case that Mr Hawkins was in Stockton that night and had been recruited to kill Ms Klimovitch on behalf of her ex-son in law.

The jury has been told that man, Stuart Campbell, had been in a relationship with Ms Klimovitch’s daughter.

The court heard he said “I’m going to do you in” after the 61-year-old grandmother slapped him.

Mr Hawkins said he never discussed Stacey Klimovitch with Mr Campbell, but did hear him speak about her to another man.

But he said, he “couldn’t make out what they were saying”.

Mr Hatfield challenged that.

“Was the conversation about committing a murder? Was it about taking care of the ex mother-in-law?” he asked.

Mr Hawkins replied,  “No, it wasn’t”.

Mr Hatfield asked, “That is what you did do that night, didn’t you?”

“No,” Mr Hawkins said.

The prosecutor said, “You walked up and shot Ms Klimovitch at her front door, calling the name Stacey?”

“No, I did not,” Mr Hawkins said. 

Accused says trip was to collect drugs

Mr Hawkins told the court he had travelled to Newcastle for roofing work with Mr Campbell the day Ms Klimovitch was shot and also picked up a package of the drug ice.

He said he had up to $100,000 worth of the drug in his car and in return for bringing it to Mr Campbell, he would get some for personal use.

Mr Hatfield said his purpose was not for roofing work or drugs, alleging his reason for travelling to Newcastle was to kill Ms Klimovitch.

He told jurors Mr Hawkins had a picture of a shotgun on his phone and alleged he owned it at the time of the shooting.

Mr Hatfield asked Mr Hawkins, “Did you take the shotgun with you to Newcastle?”

“No,” he replied.

The court was told the gun used to kill Ms Klimovitch has never been found.

The trial continues.