Paul Charlton to stand trial over cold case murder of Joanne Howell

The jilted lover of a TV singer found bashed and strangled in her Hughesdale home has been ordered to stand trial over the cold case murder.

Joanne Howell was found dead in her Poath Rd home in Hughesdale in April 2007.

The jilted lover of slain TV singer Joanne Howell has denied killing her almost 15 years ago as he was ordered to stand trial over her murder.

Paul Charlton, 67, pleaded not guilty to the single charge of murder in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

He entered the plea after magistrate Bernard FitzGerald ruled the police’s evidence against him was of “sufficient weight to support a conviction”.

The retired IT consultant will now have to front a jury trial in the Supreme Court.

Mr FitzGerald’s ruling came after he had heard a week of testimonial from key witnesses in the case, including Ms Howell’s friends who all believed Mr Charlton was responsible for the 51-year-old’s death.

Ms Howell was bashed and strangled in her Hughesdale home on the night of April 21, 2007.

Mr Charlton told police he returned to the house after taking their dog, Bundy, for a two-hour walk and found Ms Howell’s body at the bottom of the stairs.

The court heard Mr Charlton was among a number of suspects police initially investigated, but there was insufficient evidence at the time to charge anyone.

A convicted pedophile known to Ms Howell and her former boyfriend Mark Spiers — both of whom she had intervention orders out against to protect her — were among the persons of interest police ruled out.

It wasn’t until January last year, following the probe into her death being reopened, that Mr Charlton was charged.

Detective Sergeant David Woolfe had just joined Victoria Police’s homicide squad when he was asked to re-look at the case in 2017.

Listening devices were later secretly installed in Mr Charlton’s Casterton home which would lead to a breakthrough in the case.

Covertly recorded conversations allegedly heard Mr Charlton giving different versions of events about what had happened that night, which conflicted with crime scene evidence.

Family and friends of Ms Howell — an accomplished singer who worked with former Countdown star Jon St Peters in the 1970s — told the court how tensions were high in her relationship with Mr Charlton in the lead up to her death.

Ms Howell had told one friend of his anger issues and the ups and downs of their love.

“Sometimes I can see us growing old together and the next minute I can see a knife in my back or throat,” Ms Howell allegedly said to a friend.

But she had enough, they said, and decided to end the relationship with Mr Charlton.

Police allege he strangled her with an unknown item after telling him earlier in the day she no longer wanted to be with him and that he could stay in the spare room but had to move out within 30 days.

Mr Charlton will remain in the community while he awaits his trial.

Conditions of his bail include reporting to Bairnsdale police station three times a week and not to leave Victoria, unless for pre-approved travel for medical reasons.

His partner of nine years, Linda Barry, last year coughed up a $215,000 surety to also secure his freedom.

A directions hearing to determine when a trial could be heard is slated for February 17 in the Supreme Court.