SA court hears first details of alleged murder of Whyalla woman Dianne Rogan by Bevan Brougham

A MURDERED Whyalla woman was sexually assaulted and bashed with a plastic chair by her alleged killer, a court has heard. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

A MURDERED Whyalla woman was sexually assaulted and bashed with a plastic chair by her alleged killer, a court has heard.

For the first time, prosecutors and SA Police have publicly outlined their case against Bevan Brougham, who is charged with murdering Dianne Rogan, 52, in July.

The Supreme Court was told Mrs Rogan's naked body was found, in a pool of her own blood, with multiple injuries to her upper body and showing signs of sexual assault.

Evidence relating to her harrowing final moments was recounted in court in opposition to Brougham's request for release on bail.

Prosecutor Corinne Harrison said it would be inappropriate for Brougham to be freed given the seriousness of his alleged crime.

"The cause of death was blunt chest trauma, causing multiple rib and sternum fractures," she said.

"Wounds on Mrs Rogan's neck and back are consistent with an implement being used (likely) an overturned plastic chair found at the murder scene.

"A piece of skin was found lodged in Mrs Rogan's mouth (of) significant size that it would have caused irritation to its donor.

"The accused had an injury on his foot consistent with the general size of the piece of skin recovered from Mrs Rogan's teeth."

Brougham, 52, of Whyalla, has yet to plead to one count of murder.

He was arrested in July after the body of Mrs Rogan, 52, was found in the back yard of her home at Sharp St, Whyalla.

At the time, neither police nor prosecutors revealed any details about the alleged murder, saying only that Brougham was known to Mrs Rogan.

Mrs Rogan and her husband, Kevin, were both justices of the peace and well known in the Whyalla community.

Mr Rogan was overseas with his son, Jack, at the time of the murder.

At his first court appearance, Brougham's identity was suppressed following a prosecution argument dubbed "bland" by Magistrate Clive Kitchin.

That suppression order subsequently lapsed.

Today Marie Shaw, QC, for Brougham, said her client faced a long wait in custody prior to trial.

She said he had been co-operative with police, posed no flight risk, could offer a cash surety and would live under home detention conditions in Waterloo, 300km from Whyalla.

Ms Shaw said her client's parents still lived next door to the Rogan house.

"The deceased was known to my client and there is no suggestion of premeditation ... whatever happened, this is clearly an eruption," she said.

"It's clear from the evidence there was alcohol consumption surrounding the incident ... Mrs Rogan's blood alcohol level was 0.34."

Ms Harrison said any lack of premeditation did not mean there was a lack of intent.

She said forensic teams had found Brougham's DNA on Mrs Rogan's body and on objects around the murder scene including drinking glasses and overturned, broken plastic furniture.

"When the accused was arrested, a number of witnesses reported him having issues with his eye," she said.

"An optometrist located a piece of broken white plastic, measuring half of 1mm, in his eye ... it was the same colour as the plastic furniture that was broken."

She said Brougham's level of co-operation was suspect.

"On our submission, he has withheld information or, in some cases, lied to police," she said.

"In police interviews he said there was no contact between himself and Mrs Rogan 'except for some caressing and possibly kissing'.

"It's quite apparent there is more significant evidence linking him to the fatal assault."

In his ruling, Justice Kevin Nicholson said it was no longer unusual for alleged murderers to be released on bail.

"In this matter, the victim was found naked, lying in a pool of blood, deceased," he said.

"She had severe head, facial and upper torso injuries ... there was evidence of sexual assault.

"(This) appears to be brutal offending ... clearly, an unlawful killing was affected in a violent and brutal manner."

Justice Nicholson said the alleged offending was too serious to warrant bail, and refused Brougham's application.

He was remanded in custody to face the Port Augusta Magistrates Court in the new year.