By Tom Cowie & Cameron Houston
Samantha Fraser
The ex-husband of a woman found dead in her Phillip Island home fears for his safety after he received a text message from someone saying they would “fix him up”, a court has heard.
Adrian Basham, 42, did not appear at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Morwell on Monday over charges unrelated to his former partner Samantha Fraser’s death last week.
Ms Fraser, 38, was found dead in the garage of her Cowes home on July 23. Police believe foul play was involved and a post mortem found that she had been assaulted.
No one has been charged over the death.
Mr Basham was not required to be in court, where his lawyer John Sutton argued for the matter to be suppressed due to concerns for his client’s safety.
He also argued that media coverage could prejudice Mr Basham’s case.
“The publicity relates with matters to do with Mr Basham’s wife... nothing to do with the charges before the court ,” Mr Sutton said.
The court heard Mr Basham had been sent a threatening text message after Ms Fraser’s body was found.
Mr Sutton said it contained the words “when they find him they will fix him up”.
Magistrate Louis Hill granted an interim order suppressing details of the charges from being released.
The matter was adjourned until Thursday.
Mr Basham was questioned but released without charge after Samantha Fraser was found dead in her Cowes home last Monday.
Local residents, who have been deeply shaken by the tragedy, told The Age Mr Basham was seen several times crossing the bridge from San Remo in different vehicles in the last few months.
On Friday, four days after Ms Fraser was found dead in her Seagrove Way home, locals saw him walking along the main street of the beachside village.
Sources have said Ms Fraser had been living in fear before her death and had asked her parents to move in with her and her three primary school-aged children.
It is understood Ms Fraser was found with serious facial injuries, but local police initially considered her death a suicide.
The Age attempted to call Mr Basham on Sunday evening. He did not respond.
Ms Fraser, 38, dropped off her two daughters and son at a local primary school on Monday morning, before meeting friends for a coffee between 9am and 11am.
She told them she had a midday appointment, but she did not show up.
Police visited her property at 4.30pm to check on her due to concerns for her welfare, and they found her body in the garage.
It’s understood Ms Fraser recently changed the locks at her home and told friends and family she felt unsafe.
Police would like to speak to anyone who can provide information on Ms Fraser's movements between 11am and 3.30pm last Monday.