Young man accused of Rene Latimore’s murder in Supreme Court
A young man charged with killing Mackay region mum when he was 17 will face another charge in the Supreme Court after a review of the evidence.
Police & Courts
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A young man charged with killing Mackay region mum Rene Latimore when he was 17 will now again face a murder charge after a review of the available evidence.
Now 20 years old, he was released on bail in April of this year after an 11th hour decision by the prosecution during a committal hearing in Mackay to have him sentenced for manslaughter and drop the murder charge.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the defendant was originally charged with murder but was committed on a charge of manslaughter. The spokesperson said following a review of the available admissible evidence the charge of murder has been reinstated.
One count of murder was presented in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on October 29.
He was 17 when he was arrested and charged with murder on November 26, 2021 – three months after Ms Latimore was last seen alive.
Since then, the case has met with significant delays linked to forensic testing.
It is understood the young man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and Ms Latimore were known to each other.
Ms Latimore, 31, was reported missing from the Koumala area on August 18, 2021 and police believe the mum of one was last seen alive about one week earlier, on August 9.
Police allege she was killed that evening or early the following day.
On Sunday, August 30 her body was found at an Ilbilbie property now owned by Mackay Regional Councillor Marty Bella, who it is understood was called as part of the committal proceedings.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Mr Bella’s part.
The youth elected to stand trial by jury, the court heard during the April committal hearing.
The defendant’s matter was adjourned to the Supreme Court in Mackay on November 5 for mention.
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Originally published as Young man accused of Rene Latimore’s murder in Supreme Court
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