Johnathan Parker pleads not guilty to murdering Krystal Marshall, setting her house on fire
A man who allegedly murdered a woman and then set her house on fire to cover up the killing has appeared in court.
The man who allegedly murdered a woman and then set fire to her house to cover up the crime has pleaded not guilty.
Johnathan Parker fronted Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday and formally declared he would contest the charge that he murdered mother-of-two Krystal Marshall.
Police allege Mr Parker, 48, was living with Ms Marshall and her former wife Anastasia Marshall at a house in Aldinga Beach in Adelaide’s outer south when he murdered the mum.
Krystal’s body was found after a blaze engulfed her home at Barracoota Crescent on October 20, 2023 at 3.25pm.
Police arrested Mr Parker the following night and charged him with arson, murder and defiling human remains.
Prosecutors allege the murder took place between October 18 and October 20.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges before chief magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal via videolink from prison, where he is being held on remand.
The court was previously told that Mr Parker was in a relationship with Anastasia at the time of the killing and had been asked to leave the house where the three were staying together.
Anastasia, 29, was originally charged with Krystal’s murder alongside Mr Parker, but prosecutors withdrew that charge in July last year.
She is now facing arson and defiling human remains charges and three counts of assisting an offender in relation to Mr Parker’s alleged act of murder.
She pleaded not guilty to the allegations in December and Mr Parker and Anastacia will now face trial at the Supreme Court in March.
Krystal leaves behind two children, and neighbours, friends and family reacted with shock and grief to her death.
The True Heights Dance Company called Ms Marshall a “valued and loved member” of the group for “many years” after news broke of her death.
“We are here for whatever that family needs during this time of unimaginable grief,” the group said on Facebook.
Stephen Ey, for Mr Parker, declined to make any comment on his client’s behalf after leaving the court on Wednesday.
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