Grief overflows as survivor Christopher Rowe faces accused killer in court

ALMOST a year on, the pain of his family's murder is still visibly raw for Christopher Rowe.

ALMOST a year on, the pain of his family's murder is still visibly raw for Christopher Rowe.

Yesterday, he attended court for the first time and saw the face of Jason Alexander Downie,  the man accused of killing his parents and sister.

Christopher went to court hoping Downie would enter pleas to three counts of murder, only to learn the case would be delayed another six weeks.

Downie appeared to be unconcerned, saying: "No worries".

His casual response was too much for the sole survivor of the Rowe family to bear.

Christopher left court in tears, hugging and leaning on his friends as he walked back to his car.

It is alleged that Downie, 18, killed Andrew, Rose and Chantelle in their Kapunda home on November 8 last year.

Chantelle had hosted a party at the Rowes' home, while her parents were away, on the previous Saturday.

In the wake of the murders, Christopher  who was on an interstate holiday  turned to Facebook seeking details of the crime.

"Can someone tell me what's going on? That's my parents' street," he wrote. "My family lives on that street and I can't get through to any of them."

For more than 24 hours, police did not reveal details of the deaths  and refused to confirm they were murders  but urged Kapunda residents to exercise caution. At the time, residents called the delay "intolerable", saying it had increased tensions within their community.

Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives arrested Downie nine days later, when he voluntarily attended the Kapunda police station.

His identity was suppressed when he first appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.

That did not prevent his name and image being widely published on Facebook and the internet.

For his second court date in May, Downie appeared by video link. Asked if he understood the proceedings against him, he leaned forward and said: "Yeah, all right."

Yesterday's hearing was the second time Downie's committal had been postponed. He was originally scheduled to enter pleas in July, but that date was adjourned due to the compilation of evidence.

Yesterday, Downie's lawyers said they needed time to consider "a lot of additional materials" provided by prosecutors last week.

Carmen Matteo, prosecuting, said she did not oppose an adjournment.

"We are of the view that, in the unusual circumstances of this case, an adjournment is a reasonable request," she said.

Magistrate Joanne Tracey remanded Downie  who again appeared by video link  in custody, and asked if he understood the delay.

"No worries," he replied.

His response upset Christopher Rowe and his supporters, who had filled the courtroom's public gallery.

Christopher wept as he left the courtroom, and was immediately embraced by a crying woman.

They were surrounded by the rest of their 30-strong group before being moved to a witness waiting room by Court Sheriff's Officers.

The group left the court building 15 minutes later. Christopher, still visibly distraught, walked arm-in-arm with one of his friends.

Downie will appear in court again next month.