John Torney allegedly asked mum for ‘sugar tester’ before diabetic neighbour’s death
A woman found dead in her Cobram home had high levels of meth in her system and her diabetes did not appear to be “well controlled”, a doctor has told the court.
A woman found dead in her Cobram home had high levels of meth in her system and her diabetes did not appear to be “well controlled”, a doctor has revealed.
John Torney, 41, is facing multiple charges including unlawful assault, failing to seek medical attention that placed a person in danger of death and negligent manslaughter over the death of Emma Bates in April 2024.
Forensic physician Dr Jason Schreiber is one of 15 witnesses for a committal hearing being held to determine if there is enough evidence to require Mr Torney to stand trial.
Dr Schreiber told Melbourne Magistrates Court Ms Bates returned a reading of 1.5mg of methamphetamine per litre of blood after her death.
“Methamphetamine can cause problems at any level,” Dr Schreiber said.
But readings with a “one or two on the left hand side of the decimal” set off “alarm bells”, he said.
Ms Bates, 49, had type-one diabetes which Dr Schreiber described as “not well controlled”.
He said the methamphetamine may have impacted how much she sweated, caused her to forget to drink and could have worsened the effects of diabetic ketoacidosis, an emergency condition triggered by a lack of insulin.
It also did not allow her to “properly function with good judgment”.
The court heard Ms Bates had a large gash to the top of her head, a cut to her nose and bruising under an eye which could not be attributed to a single fall.
Tests showed she had a bleed on the brain, nerve death and scarring to the brain.
Dr Schreiner said it was difficult to differentiate between the brain impact of a physical assault and the effects of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Clarence Torney on Wednesday told the court in the days leading up to Ms Bates’ death his brother John Torney had asked to borrow a “sugar tester” belonging to his mother Belinda Torney.
Ms Torney was also diabetic.
Prosecutor Matthew Cookson previously told the court Mr Torney had assumed duty of care for Ms Bates because the pair were in a de facto relationship, lived alone and she had diabetes.
However, defence barrister Hayden Rattray disputed that, asking when and by what conduct Torney had assumed that responsibility.
The hearing will continue on Thursday.
‘I know how violent he is’ Accused killer’s brother wanted to call cops
A man accused of killing his neighbour was allegedly seen yelling and raising his fists at the woman and throwing coke cans “through the walls” of her Cobram home.
John Torney, 41, is facing multiple charges including unlawful assault, failing to seek medical attention that placed a person in danger of death and negligent manslaughter over the death of Emma Bates in April 2024.
The 49-year-old type 1 diabetic was found dead in her house on April 23, 2024 by emergency services conducting a welfare check after Mr Torney’s mother Belinda Torney rang police.
Ms Torney was the first of 15 witnesses expected to be called as part of a four day committal hearing being held to determine if there is enough evidence for Mr Torney to stand trial.
Mr Torney’s brother Craig Challie on Tuesday told Melbourne Magistrates Court he visited Emma Bates’s house four times on a single day in the lead up to her death.
Mr Cheille said Mr Torney and Ms Bates spent most of that day arguing and on his third visit Ms Bates had a “bleeding and swollen” lip.
He also saw his bother injecting the drug ice at least once and smoking cannabis throughout the day and into the night
Mr Cheille, who appeared at the committal hearing via a video link from Shepparton, told the court he offered to call the police on his first visit to the Campbell Rd house but Ms Bates told him not to.
“She didn’t want to get Johnny into trouble,” he said.
On the next visit Mr Cheille stood in front of his brother when speaking to him, a tactic he often used to protect others from a “violent” Mr Torney.
“I always do that,” Mr Chaille told the court.
“I know how violent he is.”
Mr Cheille told the court during his second visit to the house Mr Torney asked Ms Bates, who was a type 1 diabetic, to let him check her sugar levels using her mobile phone.
She refused.
The third visit was the last time he saw Ms Bates alive, the court heard.
He said Ms Bates was in her bedroom, her lip was “bleeding and swollen” and Mr Torney was walking in and out of the room, smoking cannabis.
Mr Cheille told the court Ms Bates was angry with Mr Torney because he was throwing coke cans “through the walls”.
“She was telling Johnny to stop damaging the house, telling him to leave,” he said.
The fourth time he visited, Mr Cheille didn’t enter the house but looked through a window at the front door.
He said he saw his naked brother walking back and forth between the bathroom and Ms Bates bedroom.
He could not see Ms Bates through the window.
Later that night his brother came to the house Mr Cheille was living at with his mother and asked for help with his mobile phone.
The hearing is continuing.
