Man cleared of toddler killing to fight Cobram death charges

A man cleared of murdering his partner’s toddler almost a decade ago has indicated he will fight charges related to the death of Cobram woman Emma Bates last month.

A man cleared of a toddler’s murder almost a decade ago has indicated he will fight charges related to the death of a woman in regional Victoria last month.

John Torney – who was found not guilty of the murder of two-year-old Nikki Francis Coslovich at Mildura in 2015 – is charged with a series of assault-related offences against Emma Bates.

Ms Bates, 49, was found dead in her Cobram home on April 23, having suffered significant head and upper body injuries consistent with being assaulted.

Emma Bates was found dead in her Cobram home. Picture: Supplied

Torney faced the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where his lawyer Nelson Brown told the court the matter would proceed to contest mention.

“There are two criminal matters that have been subject to a summary case conference and have not been able to be resolved so it would be sought that the matters be booked in for a contest mention.”

A contest mention occurs when a person intends to plead not guilty to charges.

Ms Bates’ family were in court during the brief hearing, in which Torney appeared via video link from the Metropolitan Remand Centre.

John Clifford Torney has indicated he will fight the charges relating to Ms Bates’ death. Picture Tony Gough

Wearing prison greens, Torney was at times seen scowling, including when the police prosecutor told the court 13 of his charges were to be withdrawn due to “incorrect wording” and replaced by 13 amended charges.

They include two counts of unlawful assault and one count each of common law assault and intentionally causing injury to Ms Bates.

Torney is facing an additional charge of unlawful assault in relation to a separate matter on March 18. It is unknown who the alleged victim of the unlawful assault is.

Torney was also accused of making kill threats three days before Ms Bates was discovered dead.

Additionally police allege he loitered outside an address on four occasions, including on the day police found Ms Bates’ body.

Both sets of charges were laid by uniformed members of Cobram police station.

“I did not hearing nothing (sic) the prosecution said, your Honour,” Torney said at one point when the audio cut out.

The prosecutor said the case involving Ms Bates was awaiting an outstanding medical report.

The court heard the report was due to be finalised within four weeks.

Ms Bates’ family previously told the Herald Sun investigators had informed them that homicide charges would not be laid until they had autopsy results to determine her cause of death.

The woman was described by friends as “warm and loving” in the wake of her death.

“I’m in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul,” Kylie Justice said in April.

It was previously revealed by the Herald Sun Ms Bates sought help from authorities amid fears she was in danger before she was found dead in her home.

Mr Torney was also accused of loitering outside an address on two occasions in the two days before Ms Bates was found dead.

He will return to court on June 25.