Cody James Edwards fronts court after allegedly killing mum-of-three Synamin Bell

Millicent man Cody Edwards – who allegedly murdered young mother of three Synamin Bell on Saturday – has faced court for the first time.

A South-East man could spend a year behind bars on remand before he has to answer the charge for the alleged murder of a young Millicent mother-of-three.

Cody James Edwards, 25, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court by videolink facing one count of murder after police allege he killed Synamin Bell on Saturday, March 12.

Mr Edwards’ lawyer, John Williamson, told the court his client would not be applying for bail.

Police are currently analysing complex forensic evidence including blood spatter, fingerprint and DNA analysis which could take up to a year to complete, a court has heard.

“There’s numerous amount of forensics we need to undertake – unfortunately we’re unable to examine this concurrently,” a police prosecutor said.

The prosecution said they would need one year before they were ready to proceed. Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos said the case would be brought back to court in nine months for a report.

“Everything might not be ready, but at least we will have a better understanding as to what remains outstanding,” Ms Kossiavelos said.

Cody Edwards.

Mr Edwards appeared via video link. Picture: Facebook

Police officers were called to the Poole St home just after 11pm on Saturday responding to reports of an assault. They found Ms Bell’s body inside and arrested Mr Edwards at the scene.

Major Crime detectives and forensic officers spent most of Sunday at the crime scene, gathering evidence and interviewing neighbours.

Police did say the pair were known to each other, but were still investigating the relationship between the two.

At a press conference on the weekend, the officer in charge of the Limestone Coast Superintendent Campbell Hill said the death of Ms Bell was “tragic”.

“It is devastating and it is shocking,” he said.

“It is a tragic circumstance which will reverberate and has reverberated across the community.”

Murdered mum-of-three Synamin Bell and her children. Picture: GoFundM

Millicent murder victim Synamin Bell, Picture: Facebook

Murdered mum-of-three Synamin Bell and her children. Picture: GoFundM

Ms Bell’s brother Paul Bell-Inskip said the “unfathomable” tragedy had sent shockwaves through their family.

“She was just the type of person that if she knew you were going to be part of her life, she would embrace that,” Mr Bell-Inskip told The Advertiser.

“She was a trusting girl and struggled to see the bad in anyone.”

A GoFundMe page has been established to help support Ms Bell’s three children aged six, four and three.

To donate to the fundraiser for Ms Bell’s children, search for Synamin Bell on GoFundMe.

The Millicent man will next face court in December.