Woman accused of digging friend’s grave to go to trial

A woman who allegedly dug her friend’s grave claims she was threatened into taking part in the alleged murder plot.

A woman accused of helping three others dispose of the body of a mother of six they had lured to a Perth dog park and murdered has formally entered a plea in court.

Jesse Desmond Jones pleaded not guilty in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday to a charge of accessory after the fact to an indictable (principal) offence – that alleged offence being murder.

Police allege the 27-year-old dug the shallow bushland grave of Nardia Spice in September after co-accused Eve Marsh, Zach Brough, and Ziggy Vanags murdered the 40-year-old after luring her to a Byford dog park.

Nardia Spice, 40, was allegedly lured to a dog park and killed before her body was found concealed in bushland.

Zachary Brough and Eve Marsh have been charged with murder.

Ms Spice’s body was then allegedly driven to bushland in Jarrahdale, 45km southeast of Perth, and buried. It was discovered on October 7.

In a previous bail application hearing, Ms Jones’s lawyer argued that his client had been threatened to assist the other three and wasn’t aware of their alleged intent to murder their roommate.

Appearing via video link from Hakea Prison on Wednesday, Ms Jones formally entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

She’ll go to trial in Western Australia’s Supreme Court, making her first appearance on July 31.

Ms Marsh, 31, Mr Vanags, 25, and Mr Brough, 32, are all also due to face the Supreme Court on that day; Ms Marsh and Mr Vanags pleaded not guilty to their murder charges at their last court appearances, while Mr Brough pleaded guilty to murder.

Police allege Ms Spice was killed on September 23 before being reported missing days later.

Family and friends held a funeral service for Ms Spice, a mother of six.

A court has previously been told that she was struck on the head, had her hands bound with cable ties, and was wrapped in plastic before being transported to Jarrahdale.

Ms Jones’s bail application hearing in October was also told she had driven Ms Spice to the dog park, believing she had gone there to engage in sex work and slept in the vehicle while she waited for her friend.

The court also heard concerns from Ms Jones’s lawyer over keeping their client in custody on remand because they are transgender, having been assigned male at birth but identifying as female.

However, Ms Jones remains in Hakea, Perth’s maximum-security male prison, located in the southern suburb of Canning Vale.