Peter Dansie’s murder trial for allegedly drowning his wife will restart in October after mistrial

The man accused of drowning his wheelchair-bound wife in a Parklands pond will go back to court in five months after a mistrial was declared.

• THE CHARGE: ‘Wife was a burden killer would no longer tolerate’
• THE SON: ‘Mum was always dirty … I wore a wire to talk to Dad’
• THE MISTRIAL: Judge ‘undermined’ right to silence, lawyer says

The trial of Peter Rex Dansie, for the alleged drowning murder of his wife Helen, will re-start in October following Thursday’s mistrial.

The Supreme Court on Friday committed to finalising the beleagured case “come what may”, but agreed to wait five months for the sake of the couple’s only son.

It heard Grant Dansie – who is estranged from his father – and his partner are expecting twins in August, and that he wishes to be present for their birth and early lives.

Prosecutor Jim Pearce QC conceded Grant Dansie could appear by video link if needed, but said that was not how he wanted to give his evidence.

“He wants to be here for the trial – this is about his mother,” he said.

Dansie has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, Helen. Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes.

Dansie, 70, has pleaded not guilty to having murdered Helen, 67, by drowning her in a Veale Gardens pond in April 2017.

She was disabled due to a stroke — Dansie says her wheelchair accidentally went into the pond and she drowned despite his attempts to save her.

Prosecutors say he killed her because she was “a burden he was no longer prepared to tolerate”, then embarked on “a course of deception and subterfuge” to avoid arrest.

On Thursday – after 13 days and an estimated $325,000 in court costs – the trial was aborted following complaints from Dansie’s counsel.

They asserted Justice David Peek had “undermined” their client’s right to silence by twice giving the “strong impression” he should give evidence in his own defence.

Helen Dansie died after drowning in a pond in the Adelaide CBD.

Justice Peek denied having done so, but acceded to a mistrial after Mr Pearce said he did not oppose defence counsel’s application.

Dansie’s case was due to return to court on Monday but Justice Trish Kelly called it on early in order to set a timetable.

Greg Mead SC, for Dansie, said his client wanted the trial to restart “as soon as possible”.

Justice Kelly replied: “I don’t blame him... it’s most unfortunate.”

She set the matter down for October, when all prosecution witnesses will be available, and remanded Dansie on continuing bail.

“We will get it on, come what may,” she said.