An attempted armed robbery happened only minutes before an alleged car chase that claimed the life of Warrawong father Daniel Merrett, a court has heard.
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Police allege Darren Butler, 27, attempted to rob a man at gunpoint in a home in Wegit Way, Warrawong before getting in a car that allegedly began to chase another vehicle containing 27-year-old Merrett.
The car Merrett was in was travelling along the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail before it crashed into the rear of a petrol tanker, killing him instantly.
Three other people in the car were also injured.
Court documents did not specify when or how Merrett became involved in the series of events that lead up to crash.
Police put out a warrant for the arrest of Butler and Andrew Russell, who were wanted on murder, and still want to speak to 25-year-old Holly Green.
Russell was arrested at a fast food restaurant on the Central Coast on May 22 and appeared in Gosford Local Court.
Butler was arrested in dramatic scenes at Figtree on Thursday along with Koonawarra's Matthew Ryan, 30, and Figtree's Holy Powers, 25, who are accused of being accessory after the fact to murder.
Butler was driving a car and lead police on a chase through the backstreets of Figtree before he crashed the vehicle into a small creek.
After a short foot chase, Butler was arrested in a Govett Crescent backyard by the Dog Squad unit.
He was charged with a police pursuit, driving recklessly with a speed or manner that was dangerous on O'Briens Road, and driving while disqualified.
Butler, Ryan and Powers did not apply for bail when the trio appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.
Butler's lawyer told the courtroom his client's charges would be defended.
Butler appeared in court via audio-visual link and blew a kiss to his supporters in the courtroom and yelled out "love ya's".
Powers' lawyer indicated she would apply for bail on Monday.
The trio's cases were adjourned to July 17.
Supporters of Powers clashed with media as they left the court house.
One of the supporters hit the microphone out of a journalist's hand, pushed a camera and another supporter said "the only crime she has committed was falling in love with the wrong person".
Meanwhile, Butler's family said he was innocent and told media that "there is a difference between an accident and a murder", and he was a "good person", "loving", "not a killer" before they vowed to support him.
Merrett has been described as a "loyal" man who loved his "family, coffee and smokes".
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