Ballina: Robert Karl Huber accused of murdering lover Lindy Lucena

A Northern Rivers man accused of the brutal bashing murder of his partner told police he wasn’t drinking when her body was found, despite them observing he “smelled like alcohol and was sweating profusely”, a first-day trial has heard.

Lindy Lucena was allegedly murdered in Ballina in January 2023.

A Northern Rivers man accused of the brutal bashing murder of his partner told police he wasn’t drinking when her body was found, despite them observing he “smelled like alcohol and was sweating profusely”, a first-day trial has heard.

Robert Karl Huber, now 64, is accused of murdering his lover Lindy Lucena in January 2023. She was found dead – battered and beaten in a Ballina laneway.

Huber, in a prison-issue green jumper and T-shirt – with a trimmed beard and reading glasses hooked into his jumper’s collar – appeared red faced before Justice Stephen Rothman during opening statements in Coffs Harbour Court on Wednesday.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter but pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

They prosecution cited a history of volatile and controlling behaviour between the pair. A prior assault on December 26, 2022, allegedly left Lucena with a black eye, the trial heard.

Lindy Lucena was 59 when she died in Ballina.

Witnesses also reported Huber yelling at Lucena on January 3, the day she was found dead.

Christopher Daley, the first witness, told the court he had called triple-0 on that day.

He reported a man “bashing the hell out of his woman” behind a Salvation Army store.

Daley told the court he heard a woman yelling out “stop”.

Robert Karl Huber, left is on trial defending allegations he bashed Lindy Lucena, right, to death in January 2023 at Ballina.

Huber told police he found Lucena dead. He claimed he had been asleep and denied drug or alcohol use. Police noted Huber smelled of alcohol and was sweating. He initially denied knowing how Lucena was injured, and claimed she fell.

Forensic evidence revealed Lucena’s blood on Huber’s shorts and a golf umbrella. A white doona at the scene had bloodstains from both Lucena and Huber. Lucena’s dress was pulled up, exposing parts of her body.

An expert determined Lucena died from “craniofacial trauma” from a sustained assault. She had deep bruising, a fractured thyroid cartilage, and rib fractures. Recent bruising indicated restraint.

The defence disputed the cause of death. Barrister Jason Watts argued the Crown could not prove Huber’s assault caused Lucena’s death. He challenged the dating of injuries, suggesting some bruising was from an earlier assault.

The court heard Lindy Lucena had a stroke in 2019.

Watts proposed alternative explanations for Lucena’s death. They included positional asphyxia, methadone, aspirin, and pre-existing health conditions.

He argued the injuries did not indicate intent to cause grievous bodily harm or murder.

Neither Lucena’s family nor Huber’s supporters were present in court.

Huber’s lawyer outlined Lucena’s history of pre-existing health conditions, a drug overdose in 2019, the effects of a stroke, and ongoing methadone use.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

Originally published as Ballina: Robert Karl Huber accused of murdering lover Lindy Lucena