Caroline Nilsson won’t be retried for death of mother-in-law Myrna Nilsson

A woman acquitted of murdering her mother-in-law embraced her husband and supporters as she walked free from court after prosecutors dropped manslaughter charges.

Valley View woman Myrna Nilsson was found bludgeoned to death in the laundry room.

A woman acquitted of murdering her mother-in-law has walked free from court, after prosecutors told the court they would not be pursuing a retrial on a charge of manslaughter.

Caroline Dela Rose Nilsson, 30, now intends to “reconnect with her children” and husband Mark Nilsson.

A Supreme Court jury found Ms Nilsson not guilty of murdering Myrna Nilsson, 57, at the Valley View home they shared after a six-week trial in October, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict for the alternative charge of manslaughter.

It was the second time she had stood trial for the alleged murder after a previous Supreme Court jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2020 after five days of deliberations.

On Monday, prosecutor Emily Telfer QC told the court that she would no longer pursue the alternative charge of manslaughter.

“In respect of that alternative I enter a nolle prosequi,” she said.

After the short hearing, Caroline Nilsson embraced her husband and supporters.

Caroline Dela Rose Nilsson and her husband Mark outside court after an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Her mother-in-law, Myrna Nilsson, was found bludgeoned to death in the laundry room at the back of their house in September 2016, just 47 seconds after she stopped her car when she returned home from work.

Hours later, Caroline Nilsson was found by neighbours bound and gagged outside the home, and told investigators she was tied up by two men who were responsible for the crime.

She was arrested and charged with murder more than a year later.

Outside court on Monday, James Caldicott, for Ms Nilsson, said she was “incredibly grateful” to walk free after five “very long” years.

“She’s very happy with the outcome, the family is obviously very supportive of her,” he said.

“It has been very difficult for her emotionally, physically, but more importantly to the family as a whole they are all mourning the death of (Myrna Nilsson), who she loved dearly.

“The most important thing for her now is just to take that time with her husband, with her family and obviously reconnect with her kids.”

A condition of her home detention bail, which has now lapsed, was that she be banned from living with Mr Nilsson.

Mr Caldicott said Caroline Nilsson now “wants to put this matter behind her” and move on with her life.

“She just wants to reconnect with her family, obviously reconnect with her children,” he said.

“The first thing that she will be trying to do is reconnect with her kids.”

He said he was not aware of any ongoing investigation into Myrna Nilsson’s death.