Cody James Edwards pleads not guilty to 2022 murder of Synamin Bell, court told he may have a mental incompetence defence

Millicent mum Synamin Bell’s alleged murderer has denied the charge and is set for trial – unless doctors agree he was mentally incompetent at the time.

Synamin Bell and her three children. Picture: GoFundMe

A Millicent man has denied murdering beloved mother-of-three Synamin Bell – and a court has heard he may have been mentally incompetent at the time of her death.

In the Supreme Court on Monday, Cody James Edwards pleaded not guilty to one count of murder over Ms Bell’s death in March 2022.

Edwards now faces a likely jury trial – however, a prosecutor told the court “a number of issues” needed to be resolved before that occurred.

“As I understand it, defence counsel is in possession of a report as to either Mr Edwards’ mental competence or fitness, in relation to this offence,” she said.

“And, as I understand it, they are in the process of considering that report.”

Cody James Edwards. Picture: Facebook

Under state law, a person found to have been mentally incompetent at the time of an offence is found not guilty and cannot be sentenced to a prison term.

Instead, they are made subject to a limiting term – a period under mental health supervision, in detention or in the community, equal to the sentence an unaffected offender would serve.

Mr Edwards, 26, was charged with murder after Ms Bell, 25, was found dead in her Poole St home.

She was remembered, by friends and family, as a generous and trusting person devoted to her three children, and who dreamt of studying medicine.

Mr Edwards was charged after the discovery of Ms Bell’s body. Picture: Facebook

Ms Bell’s family says repeated delays in the case have caused them to struggle. Picture: Facebook

The courts, meanwhile, were told the case against Mr Edwards would take time to finalise due to “complex forensic evidence” taken from the house.

Repeated adjournments of the case caused Ms Bell’s family, by their own admission, to struggle – particularly on the anniversary of her death.

On Monday, Oliver Cole, for Mr Edwards, confirmed he had a report about mental health and competence issues “that this matter might raise”.

He said barrister Gilbert Aitken – who defended convicted NCA bomber Domenic Perre – would represent Mr Edwards at trial.

“Having received the report, Mr Aitken and I are in the process of obtaining an opinion about it from senior counsel,” he said.

“My indication is that senior counsel is in a position to consider that report from the beginning of August.”

Justice Julie McIntyre remanded Mr Edwards in custody to a directions hearing next month.