Gun, child abuse material charges for Charlise Mutten’s alleged killer Justin Stein
The man charged with murdering nine-year-old Charlise Mutten has been hit with a string of extra charges by police, including possessing child abuse material and guns.
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The man charged with murdering nine-year-old Charlise Mutten has been hit with a string of extra charges by police, including possessing child abuse material and guns.
Charlise had been visiting her mother, Kallista Mutten, for a holiday in the Blue Mountains in January when she went missing.
Police launched a massive search effort and later found Charlise’s body inside a barrel near the Colo River, before charging her mum’s fiancee Justin Stein, 31, with her murder.
Officers later confirmed the girl had suffered a gunshot wound.
Police on Thursday said that officers had searched an area of bushland near Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains where they found two guns and ammunition last February. The items underwent forensic examination before detectives went to Silverwater jail on Thursday and rearrested Stein.
He was charged with two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, two counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing ammunition without a licence or permit, and aggravated break and enter in company.
He was also charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material for “unrelated matters”.
Stein, who is behind bars on remand, is listed to appear before Penrith Local Court on Friday.
Police have previously said it was too early to discuss a possible motive in Charlise’s alleged murder.
In a GoFund Me appeal created last February, Charlise’s heartbroken father Scott Hensby called her death a “vile tragedy”.
“The support given within Australia and from around the world has been massive,” he wrote.
“And rightly so, this is a vile tragedy which has been followed by millions of people, all hoping Charlise would be found alive and well, only to be crushed by the news of her body being discovered.”
Charlise, her mother and Stein had been staying at Wildenstein, which is one of Mount Wilson’s best known wedding resorts.
Stein’s family owns the multimillion-dollar estate, where Charlise had been last seen.
Stein previously worked in the steel and timber industries, and proposed to Ms Mutten in December 2020.
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Originally published as Gun, child abuse material charges for Charlise Mutten’s alleged killer Justin Stein