Accused murderer Kerrie Lee Catling’s new lawyers to apply for Expensive Case grant with Legal Aid with legal representative telling court the last one too 3.5 months to be processed

Parties wanting an update in the murder case of a Rockhampton man allegedly stabbed to death by his wife in August 2021 could have to wait about 3.5 months. Find out why.

Chris Catling and Kerrie Catling. Kerrie Catling has been charged over the alleged murder of her husband Chris in March 2021.

Parties wanting an update in the murder case of a Rockhampton man allegedly stabbed to death by his wife in August 2021 will have to wait about another three and a half months.

Kerrie Lee Catling was charged with the murder of her husband Chris Catling, 51, after his death on March 22, 2021, from a single stab wound to the chest.

She was charged with murder in August 2021.

An update on the case was provided to the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 16, 2022.

Defence lawyer Mirren Smith advised the court McGowran and Cagney was now representing Ms Catling after she was granted Legal Aid funding and the firm was appointed.

Chris Catling and Kerrie Catling. Kerrie Catling has been charged over the alleged murder of her husband Chris in March 2021.

Ms Catling had previously been represented as a private client by Jacobson Mahony Lawyers.

Ms Smith said the previous firm had already delivered the brief of evidence in a box and she had picked up more documents from police on March 16.

She advised there would need to be an Expensive Case application made to Legal Aid.

An expensive case grant is approved for cases matching certain criteria, according to the Legal Aid Queensland website, including a brief of evidence having more than 2500 page of material.

Ms Smith said the last Expensive Case application McGowran and Cagney lodged took three and a half months to be granted.

During a bail application in the Supreme Court in October 2021, the court heard police received two triple-0 calls on the day of the alleged murder, the first from a male, with a female voice heard in the background, before it was terminated.

Chris Catling died from an alleged single stab wound at a Norman Gardens home on March 22, 2021. A woman has been charged with his alleged murder.

Police found Mr Catling unresponsive in a lounge chair in the couple’s Norman Gardens home, with a knife on the ground near his right hand.

He had no defensive wounds, the court heard.

Justice David Boddice said it was alleged the downward trajectory of the knife went from the top of the chest into Mr Catling’s heart, with the wound 12 centimetres deep.

Ms Catling was denied bail on that occasion and remains remanded in custody.

Her matter was adjourned until July 6.