A former reality TV contestant facing charges related to the murder of her partner must wait for police to complete their examination of substantial evidence before knowing which charges will proceed.
She stands accused of murder, destruction of human remains, and obstruction of justice following the discovery of 39-year-old Julian Story’s dismembered body at their Port Lincoln home on the Eyre Peninsula, found on June 19.
Prosecutor Lisa Duong requested that Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal postpone the hearing until May of the following year.
“The court should be aware that there is still material outstanding, which the Director of Public Prosecutions needs to assess for charge determination,” Duong stated.
During the hearing, the ex-contestant from “Beauty and the Geek” only spoke to confirm her ability to see and hear the proceedings clearly.
She remains held under a mental health detention order at the psychiatric facility James Nash House.
Duong told the court that prosecutors were awaiting a post-mortem report, due in February or March, and crime scene analysis, including fire examination and blood pattern analysis.
They are also awaiting forensic analysis of phones owned by Chesser and Story.
“Significantly, there is also DNA evidence that is outstanding,” Duong said.
“Given the volume of the DNA evidence in this matter, the report will be provided in two stages.”
The first report is due on April 17 next year, and the second is due on July 10.
The prosecution expected to be able to make a decision on charge determination after the first report was completed.
Hribal adjourned the matter until May 19.
On June 27, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke issued a plea for public help “because tragically, we have not recovered the head of Julian Story”.
A Port Lincoln resident told police on July 31 that they had found a skull in scrub while pursuing a wandering dog.
Tests by Forensic Science SA confirmed the remains belonged to Story.
In June, police released still images and video of a woman they allege was Chesser walking on Port Lincoln streets that were recorded after the killing, which investigators allege occurred about midnight on June 17.
The images show a woman wearing a black headscarf and black full-body coverings, carrying a bag.
Fielke said police would not discount the possibility that Story’s head was inside the bag.
