Slade Murdok, accused of murdering mum Wendy Sleeman, has case delayed

Court proceedings in the case of a man accused of kidnapping and killing his mum have been delayed, with a ‘voluminous’ amount of evidence provided to the defence. Here’s why.

A delay in finalising DNA and a pathology report has delayed court proceedings for the man accused of murdering and kidnapping Elanora woman Wendy Sleeman.

The delay comes after a “voluminous” amount of evidence was provided to the defence team.

Slade Murdok did not appear in court when his case was briefly mentioned in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

He charged with multiple offences including murder, kidnapping, unlawful stalking, assault, and attempted arson.

Wendy Sleeman.

It is alleged Murdok went to his mother Ms Sleeman’s home on the afternoon of January 24 and attacked and kidnapped her.

A major search was launched across south east Queensland after police discovered a large amount of blood and the remnants of a fire in Ms Sleeman’s Elanora home.

Her body was found in a car boot in Brisbane on January 26.

Slade Murdok. Picture: Queensland Police

On Friday, Murdok’s lawyer David Carlin, of Legal Aid Queensland, said they had received a partial brief of evidence earlier this month.

He described the evidence as “voluminous”.

He told the court missing from the evidence was the DNA and pathologist reports.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Nichole Jackson said it would take between six and 12 months for the reports to finalised.

She asked for the matter to be adjourned to August or September.

Magistrate Jane Bentley ordered the matter to be returned to court on July 21 which is in just nine weeks.

It is not the first time the potential delay has been flagged with the court.

In February the Southport Magistrates Court was told it could take 12 months for the forensic evidence to be finalised.

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