Jo-Anne Graham pleads not guilty to stabbing murder of housemate Diedre Folpp in Muswellbrook

A woman will head to trial to defend charges she fatally stabbed her housemate at their Upper Hunter home where her body lay undiscovered for more than 13 hours before being found by police in the back room of a cottage.

The crime scene at Sydney St, Muswellbrook, where Ms Folpp’s body was found on October, 2023. Picture: Amy Ziniak

A woman has pleaded not guilty to fatally stabbing her housemate at their Upper Hunter home whose body was found some 13 hours later by police following a welfare check.

Jo-Ann Graham, 53, was charged with the murder of 60-year-old Diedre “Dee” Folpp in , who was found at their Sydney St residence in Muswellbrook with multiple stab wounds.

Court documents state the prosecution will allege Graham murdered Ms Folpp between 12pm on October 27 and 8.30pm on October 30, 2023.

Police had initially visited the property that morning following a concern-for-welfare check and were greeted by Graham at the door.

Hours later, police returned and found Ms Folpp’s body in a back room of the small cottage.

Graham was arrested and taken to the Mater Hospital in Newcastle where she spent nine days before being charged with murder.

Muswellbrook woman Dee Folpp, 60, was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside a Sydney St home in October 2023. Picture: Facebook.

Sydney St, Muswellbrook where Ms Folpp’s body was found in a home. Picture: Amy Ziniak

In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Graham appeared via video link and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

She also pleaded not guilty to a charge of intimidation, which is alleged to have occurred between October 27 and October 30, 2023, relating to a male – as well as a charge of destroying property in relation to a flyscreen.

Graham is set to be arraigned in Sydney’s Supreme Court in July for a trial date to be set.

In a previous court appearance, it was mentioned Graham’s mental health impairment may be raised and the possibility of an application for a special verdict.

The court also heard fitness was not an issue, while mental health impairment was not in dispute from the parties.