SA magistrate lifts suppression order on alleged Kilburn murderer Cynthia Ellen Rigney
Three hours after a court-issued an ultimatum, prosecutors and defence counsel have conceded the lifting of a suppression order of the identity of an alleged killer.
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A teenager has been ordered to stand trial, accused of murdering a woman with 30 to 40 stab wounds – and a longstanding secrecy order on her identity has been lifted.
On Tuesday, Cynthia Ellen Rigney, 18, of Kilburn, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder.
Prosecutors have previously alleged she was seen entering the Goodman Ave home of a woman, 61, just before 5pm on December 7 last year.
They have alleged the 61-year-old’s body was found by another person at 5.10pm, and that police subsequently found the 18-year-old wearing bloodstained clothing.
It is further alleged police located a bloodstained shoulder bag and several knives – including a large silver knife hidden behind the accused’s couch – in her house.
Rigney’s plea, and the end of the secrecy surrounding her case, came at the end of an unexpectedly drawn-out court hearing.
On Tuesday morning, prosecution and defence counsel told the Adelaide Magistrates Court they were unprepared to put arguments as to whether the suppression should continue.
They said they had been “caught on the hop” and asked for time to prepare.
The state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, told them they had three hours.
“The suppression order is due to be reviewed today, and I intend to review it,” she said.
Just after 2.15pm, prosecution and defence counsel told Judge Hribal they did not object to the order being lifted.
Judge Hribal revoked the suppression order and remanded Rigney in custody to face the Supreme Court in February, when a date for trial will be set.
