Ricky James Cowan to face trial for alleged slaying of Cairns mum Crystal Ratcliffe in October 2016

After five years in limbo, a trial date has been set for the man charged over the alleged horrific rape and murder of a Cairns mum.

AFTER five years in limbo, a trial date has been set for the man charged over the alleged horrific rape and murder of a Cairns mum.

The case against Cairns man Ricky James Cowan was suspended “indefinitely” in May 2020, two months after he was transferred to The Park Centre, a high security psychiatric hospital in Brisbane.

Crystal Ratcliffe, 38 was allegedly stabbed by Ricky Cowan, 48.

But the matter returned to the Cairns Supreme Court on Friday, where Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane asked Justice Jim Henry for a trial date to be set as the matter had returned from the mental health court.

Mr Cowan is charged with the rape and murder of Crystal Ratcliffe, 38, the mother of two of his children, at her Woree home in 2016.

Police established a crime scene at a Woomoola Street residence in Woree where 38-year-old woman Crystal Ratcliffe was pronounced dead. Picture: Marc McCormack

The couple had separated two-and-a-half years prior to the events of October 2016, where Mr Cowan is accused of killing Ms Ratcliffe in a jealous rage after finding out she was seeing someone else.

She was found with 41 stab wounds.

The Supreme Court trial has been listed for March 7, 2022.

Mr Cowan was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Ricky James Cowan to face trial for alleged slaying of Cairns mum Crystal Ratcliffe in October 2016