Amy Parsons: Roderick Deakin-White faces London court over Melbourne woman’s murder

The fiance of Melbourne woman Amy Parsons allegedly killed her with a metal bar in her East London apartment because she wanted to leave him, a court has heard.

Former Melbourne woman Amy Parsons was beaten to death with a metal bar in her East London apartment because she wanted to leave her partner, a court heard.

Roderick Deakin-White, 37, told neighbours and police that he killed Ms Parsons, 35, the Old Bailey in London has heard.

The grey-haired Briton appeared in court via video link from Thameside prison.

Judge Anthony Leonard QC said: “In this case the defendant is alleged to have killed his girlfriend because of a deterioration in their relationship and the possibility that she had started a new relationship.”

Amy Parsons with her fiance Roderick Deakin-White, who has been charged with her murder.

“There’s unlikely to be any issue about the fact he killed her, it’s the circumstances in which he did so.

“I note she was hit several times with a bar.”

Giving a brief summary of the case, prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the Old Bailey: “It should be noted there are no previous matters recorded against Mr Deakin-White.

“It’s apparent that in the days leading up to the death of Amy Parsons, who was the defendant’s fiancee, their relationship had deteriorated considerably — something which the defendant was particularly upset, to put it in its most neutral manner.

Amy Parsons had allegedly wanted to leave her partner before she was killed, the court heard.

“It’s submitted there can be little doubt from the accounts the defendant has later given to others, including police officers, that on the night of the 25th of April he repeatedly struck his fiancee with a metal bar.

“She, preliminary results of the post mortem showed, she received a very large number of strokes with what appears likely to be severe force.

“The defendant has since, after killing her, specifically to a number of people, including a total stranger in which he told her that he had killer his fiancee and also spoke to a police officer outside where he admitted killing her and made similar admissions to an extent in interview with police.

The court heard Roderick Deakin-White made admissions to neighbours and police.

“He effectively told police that he did it because he lost control.

“It’s submitted there can be very little doubt at this stage that the defendant is responsible for the death of his fiancee.

“The defendant also told police that he had attempted to kill himself.

“There a number of neighbours who provided statement to police who are neighbours to the address.”

Mr Polnay added there were partial defences to murder and that the defendant’s defence teams were looking at submitting psychiatric reports on him to the case.

Amy Parsons died after being struck with a metal bar in her apartment.

He applied for Deakin-White to be denied bail because there were “substantial” grounds to believe he would commit further offences, interfere with witnesses in the case, and for his own personal safety.

Ronnie Manek, on behalf of Deakin-White, made no applications for bail or legal representations.

The judge remanded Deakin-White, of Crowder Street, Whitechapel, in custody and set a trial date of between one and two weeks starting at the court on October 28 this year.

Deakin-White, who appeared in the court via prison video link from HMP Thameside, wore a green shirt, made little emotion and held his hands in front of him as the judge sent him down.

The family of Roderick Deakin-White outside an earlier court hearing.

He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and British nationality during the 13-minute hearing and will next appear at the court in person at a preliminary hearing on July 16 — the date when the defence is due to submit any psychiatric reports on him.

Deakin-White is also due to enter pleas to one count of murder at the court on July 23.

Judge Leonard QC said the decision to refuse bail was made because of the “substantial” risk the defendant would commit further offences and for his own protection — but due to the risk he would interfere with witnesses.

Originally published as Amy Parsons: Roderick Deakin-White faces London court over Melbourne woman’s murder