Krishna Chopra murder case: Simon Jones has charge mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court

A testing backlog at the state’s forensic lab has forced another adjournment in the case against a man accused of murdering his mother-in-law, with a court told that nearly 200 samples are yet to be tested.

The case against a man accused of murdering his mother-in-law at her Crows Nest home has been adjourned again after it was revealed in court that almost 200 samples are yet to be DNA tested by the state’s forensic lab.

Simon Jones has been charged with the murder of Krishna Chopra, who was found dead inside her Park Rd home in January 2022.

The 33-year-old has been held in custody since his arrest in March 2022 and was not required to be in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday when the case was mentioned.

Police allege that Ms Chopra, 61, died from severe head trauma, with an extensive search of her Crows Nest property allegedly uncovering a metal bar near her home.

Solicitor Nathan Bouchier, representing Mr Jones, told the court that the matter was previously adjourned on May 19 for the prosecution to make available witnesses for cross-examination, however since that time it was revealed that 198 samples were yet to be DNA tested by the state forensic lab before a complete report could be produced.

Mr Bouchier told the court that the missing DNA testing was “quite critical” to the case.

When asked by magistrate Kay Philipson what time frame was expected for the DNA testing results, police prosecutor Anita Page said delays of up to three months were anticipated.

The matter was adjourned to June 29 for an update on when the test results could be expected.

Mr Jones has not been required to enter a plea to the charge, and he was remanded to remain in custody.

Originally published as Krishna Chopra murder case: Simon Jones has charge mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court