John Torney fronts court on charges related to Emma Bates’ death

A Cobram woman feared for her safety before she was found dead in her home this week, a court has heard, as the man accused of assaulting her gave the middle finger to the court.

Cobram woman Emma Bates sought help from authorities amid fears she was in danger before she was found dead in her home.

It comes as John Torney – who was previously cleared of murdering a toddler in Mildura – fronted Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Friday facing assault-related charges in relation to the death of Ms Bates, 49, whose body was found on the floor of her Campbell Rd home near the NSW-Victoria border on Tuesday afternoon.

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

John Torney. Picture: Mark Stewart

Torney faces assault-related charges. Picture: Tony Gough

The Herald Sun can reveal Ms Bates sought help from authorities prior to her death but cannot publish further detail due to legal reasons.

Wearing a navy shirt and a green sweater Mr Torney, 39, clenched his hands and appeared nervous as he sat in the dock beside two custody officers on Friday.

He stuck his middle finger up at reporters seated in the gallery after the brief hearing concluded.

No details about the allegations against him were aired other than that police were alleging he had committed a “serious assault”.

He is facing 13 charges, including intentionally causing injury and multiple counts of unlawful assault alleged to have occured between April 20 and 23.

Mr Torney’s lawyer Kyle McLaughlin said his client was withdrawing from a drug of dependence and had other unrelated matters which would return to court in June.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on May 21.

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

Police at the Campbell St home of Emma Bates, where her body was found. Picture: Oscar Jaeger

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.

Ms Bates used a mobility scooter and had long battled health issues, including type 1 diabetes, and it is believed police were unable to immediately confirm what caused her death, or if Mr Torney’s alleged assault was a factor.

On Friday, her family expressed relief that he was not granted bail.

“We were so fearful he would be allowed to be free,” they said.

“You see too often the courts failing to act in the victim’s favour. Too often this man has skated despite his despicable record towards women and children.”

Mr Torney was previously acquitted of murdering his partner’s daughter, Nikki, in her Mildura home in 2015 despite admitting hiding the tiny girl’s body in the roof of the home.

Cobram local Ashleigh Ladgrove has organised a rally to be held at Federation Park in the heart of town on Sunday April 28 at 11am.

“We will join in solidarity with all of Australia to acknowledge the lives lost and those affected by gender based violence”, Ms Ladgrove said.

Ms Ladgrove teamed up with not-for-profit group “What You Were Wearing” which aims at ending sexual violence.

“I am tired of seeing another statistic and tired of seeing no change”, she said.