Trial date set for stepfather of Charlise Mutten over murder of the young schoolgirl
The stepfather of Charlise Mutten will face a 7-week long trial where he will defend the allegation he murdered the young schoolgirl.
The stepfather of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten, accused of murdering her and dumping her body in a barrel, will fight the charges at a trial which has been set for May next year.
Justin Stein, 32, appeared at the NSW Supreme Court via audiovisual link on Friday where he officially pleaded not guilty to murder.
He is accused of murdering Charlise, the daughter of his fiancee, and dumping her body in a plastic barrel.
The nine-year-old’s body was found with gunshot wounds in bushland near the Colo River in NSW’s Central Tablelands in January last year.
Appearing from Metropolitan Remand & Reception Centre wearing a green jumper, Mr Stein was arraigned by Justice Helen Wilson.
“Justin Stein you stand charged by that name on or about 12 January 2022 at Mount Wilson did murder Charlise Mutten, how do you plead guilty or not guilty?” the judge said.
Mr Stein responded: “Not guilty”.
He will now face a trial estimated to last up to seven weeks at the Supreme Court at Parramatta, in Sydney’s West, on May 6, 2024.
The court heard the jury will be taken to the house at Mount Wilson, where Mr Stein is accused of killing the young schoolgirl.
When asked whether an application for a judge-alone trial would be made, Mr Stein’s barrister Carolyn Davenport said she “hadn’t canvassed that” with her client.
At a previous court matter, Mr Stein’s lawyer Peter Katsoolis said he is defending the charges.
Outside court, Mr Katsoolis told reporters Mr Stein will be defending the charges.
“He’s maintained his innocence from the outset in relation to these charges, and they’ll be vigorously defended,” Mr Katsoolis said.
Charlise had been visiting her mother and Mr Stein at a Blue Mountains property, where police allege she was killed. There is no suggestion that Charlise’s mother was involved in her death, and she has never been accused of any wrongdoing in this respect.
Police mapped Mr Stein’s movements in the hours following her disappearance, from the property to the northwest and inner west suburbs of Sydney, where they allege he tried multiple times to launch a boat alleged to have contained her body.
After being unable to start the boat, it is alleged Mr Stein travelled back to the Colo River, near where Charlise’s body was eventually found.
The disappearance of the Tweed Heads schoolgirl on January 14, 2022, sparked a lengthy multi-agency search of the surrounding bushlands, involving hundreds of volunteers.
Police allege Mr Stein murdered Charlise either on the evening of January 11 or in the early hours of January 12 when they were alone together at the property.
Charlise was living with her grandparents in Coolangatta and was visiting her mother over the Christmas school holidays when she disappeared.
Mr Stein was arrested in January 2022 and has remained behind bars on remand ever since.
‘Big hole’ in case against Tyrrell foster father
A judge has told a court that there is a “big hole” in the case against William Tyrrell’s foster father after he was convicted of intimidating a child.
‘Stop the f***ing noise’: Disturbing attack
A video has revealed the moment a man allegedly struck a younger man in the head with a metal police after telling him to “stop the f***ing noise”.
Update after alleged 40-person brawl
A man is fighting for life after he was allegedly hit in the head with a baseball bat during a street brawl, with police looking to speak to up to 40 people.