Hector Valencia faces court over alleged murder of Kim McRae
A court has heard the murder case of an eastern suburbs sex worker would be delayed due to language difficulties and Covid.
Southern Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
UPDATE
The murder case of a young Colombian man charged over the death of a Sydney sex worker has been delayed in court due to “language difficulties” and complications arising from the latest Covid outbreak, a court has heard.
Columbian national Hector Enrique Valencia, 21, was extradited from the Caribbean island of Aruba in November last year after allegedly fleeing Australia.
Upon being brought back to Sydney, the international student was charged with the murder of Coogee woman and sex worker Kimberley McRae, whose body was discovered inside her Mount St apartment in January 2020.
His matter was mentioned in Central Local Court on Thursday (July 8) where his lawyer asked for another adjournment.
Due to the existing Covid outbreak in NSW, she told the court there was no face-to-face access allowed at the prison where Valencia was being kept on remand.
She explained they required a Spanish interpreter for an important conference, between the defence and prosecution, but technology linked to the correctional facility had failed on their last attempt.
“Because of the language difficulties (combined) with the AVL difficulties it cannot work,” she said.
“The facilities are not able to have the four of us at the same time, only three of us can be on there.”
Magistrate Robert Williams adjourned the matter for a month and the matter will be mentioned again in August.
No plea has been entered for the murder charge.
EARLIER
BY GARY HAMILTON-IRVINE ON APRIL 15, 2021
A young Colombian man charged with the murder of Coogee sex worker Kimberley McRae has fronted court where a magistrate has heard about “the complexity of the matter”.
A homicide investigation was launched after McRae, 69, was found dead inside her Mount St apartment in Sydney’s east in January last year.
Columbian national Hector Enrique Valencia Valencia, 21, was extradited from the Caribbean island of Aruba in November and charged with her murder.
Police allege he left Australia in February 2020 just weeks after her death.
He fronted Central Local Court on Thursday and his lawyer asked for a lengthy adjournment “given the complexity of the matter”.
The matter was adjourned until June for a case conference to take place.
Valencia appeared in court via a video link from prison and sat quietly as his matter was mentioned.
No plea has yet been entered to the murder charge.
According to court documents, Ms McRae was allegedly murdered during the afternoon of January 8, 2020.
Her body was found inside her apartment six days later on January 14.
Ms McRae also went by the names Sabrina, Isabella and Samantha.
Chemist Warehouse boss scores ‘spare’ $25m mansion
The flamboyant boss of Chemist Warehouse has pounced on a beachfront home for $25m — while keeping his luxury mansion just five minutes drive away.
Disgraced doctor barred from eastern suburbs hotspot
A former Bondi doctor who previously threatened someone with an axe is barred from entering an eastern suburbs social spot after he allegedly breached apprehended domestic violence orders.