SA court lifts suppression order on identity of alleged Robert Whitwell murderer Bernadette Burns
THE identity of the third person charged in relation to the murder and attempted robbery of Craigmore grandfather Robert Whitwell can now be revealed.
THE identity of the third person charged in relation to the murder and attempted robbery of Craigmore grandfather Robert Whitwell can now be revealed.
On Tuesday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court lifted a suppression order that had banned publication of the image of Bernadette Burns, 21, of Redbank Plains in Queensland.
Burns is yet to plead to allegations she murdered Mr Whitwell, whose body was found inside his home on August 8.
Her co-accused — Mr Whitwell’s granddaughter, Brittney Jade Dwyer — has already confessed to murder.
A third woman — Shelby Lee Angie Holmes — is also facing court, charged not with murder but an aborted attempt to steal $30,000 in cash from Mr Whitwell three months earlier.
The court has previously heard allegations Dwyer told Holmes, while she was watching Mr Whitwell, not to get attached because “he might have to die”.
On Tuesday, prosecutors told the court a “significant” amount of material in their case against Burns remained outstanding, including pathology and crime scene reports.
Counsel for Dwyer, meanwhile, noted their client had also been charged with one count of aggravated serious criminal trespass in a place of residence.
They asked that charge “travel” with the murder count, and with Burns’ case, as they made their way through the system.
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, remanded both Dwyer and Burns in custody to face court again next month.