Uni lecturer Adam Brown breaks down while pleading guilty to wife’s murder

A university lecturer has broken down in court while pleading guilty to the brutal murder of his wife in Melbourne earlier this year.

A senior lecturer at a Melbourne university has broken down in tears as he confessed to his wife’s murder at their suburban home in April.

Adam Brown, a senior lecturer in digital media at Deakin University, was charged by police with the murder of his wife Chen Cheng at their home in Croydon North on the night of April 30.

In the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, magistrate Rohan Lawrence read Brown his rights and asked him if he pleaded guilty or not guilty to the one charge of murder.

“Guilty, Your Honour,” he said, his voice quavering.

Brown’s lawyer, David Hallowes SC, told the court earlier on Tuesday morning in a committal mention that his client would be pleading guilty.

University lecturer Adam Brown has pleaded guilty to the April murder of his wife. Picture: Instagram

Ms Cheng, 35, and Mr Brown, a prolific user of Twitter and publisher on his personal blog, share two young children.

Brown appeared via video link from prison on Tuesday, dressed in a black suit. He spent most of the hearing with his eyes closed and in an emotional state.

After his legal team informed the court that Brown would be pleading guilty, prosecutors successfully applied to have the examination of his psychologist, Dr Cathy Fowler, heard behind closed doors.

Ms Cheng is alleged to have died at the back gate of her Croydon North home. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Ms Cheng’s neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the Herald Sun that on the night of her death, Ms Cheng shouted “he wants to kill me” and ran to the wooden back gate of the home the pair lived in together in an attempt to escape.

It was reported at the time that Ms Cheng banged on the gate, but by the time it was opened, the neighbour was unable to save her.

The same neighbour alleged Brown’s hands were covered in blood.

Brown broke down in court. Picture: Supplied

Brown has been committed to the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on September 30, where a plea date is likely to be set.