Anastasia Marshall confesses to helping ex-wife Krystal’s killer, but Aldinga Beach murder accused Jonathan Parker denies charges
The ex-wife of a woman who was found murdered and set on fire in her Aldinga Beach has made a tearful admission in court as she changed her plea.
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The ex-wife of a woman who was found murdered and set on fire in her Aldinga Beach home has confessed to helping her alleged killer carry out the crime.
But that man, Jonathan Parker, says he had no part in the killing, a court has heard.
In the South Australian Supreme Court on Monday morning, Anastasia Narelle Marshall wiped away tears as she confessed to helping her ex-partner Krystal Marshall’s alleged killer.
Emergency services were called to a home on Barracoota Crescent in Aldinga Beach in October 2023 after a neighbour reported seeing smoke coming from the roof.
Fire crews extinguished the blaze and when they checked the home, they found Krystal’s body.
Anastasia, 29, was originally charged with murder, as well as arson and defiling remains, but those charges were dropped in the Magistrates Court last year.
Answering her remaining charge of assisting an offender in December, Anastasia had originally pleaded not guilty, but changed her plea in the Supreme Court on Monday morning.
Her co-accused, Mr Parker, has been charged with one count each of murder and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecutors allege that between October 18 and 21, 2023, Anastasia “knowing or believing that Jonathan Parker had murdered Krystal Marshall, did an act with the intention of assisting Mr Parker to escape apprehension or prosecution”.
“How do you plead?” Anastasia was asked.
“Guilty,” she said, before wiping away another tear.
Mr Parker, however, continued to deny he had any part in the crime, confirming his not guilty pleas to both counts of murder and destroying Krystal’s remains by fire.
Previously, prosecutors alleged Mr Parker had been in a relationship with Anastasia when Krystal was allegedly murdered.
Mr Parker, who remains in custody, will return to court again late next month, but asked for his trial to be heard by judge alone.
Anastasia was remanded on continuing bail to return to court again in May, where a date will be set for sentencing submissions.
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Originally published as Anastasia Marshall confesses to helping ex-wife Krystal’s killer, but Aldinga Beach murder accused Jonathan Parker denies charges
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