Anthony and Johanna Donald face court over illegal burial of woman last year

A married couple have appeared in court to face charges relating to the alleged burial of a woman in a shallow grave at a property in a rural coastal area. LATEST >>

TWO more people have been charged over the alleged backyard burial of a woman in the rural East Coast township of Cranbrook.

Senior married couple Anthony Raymond Donald, 78, and Johanna Marolina Donald, 72, faced the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday jointly charged with neglecting duty as to burial and failing their obligation to report a death.

The charges relate to the death of Soo Lan Chuah and her alleged informal burial on August 11 last year.

Last month, Ms Chuah’s 70-year-old partner Olaf Vennik faced court, but has not yet entered pleas to four charges concerning her burial.

According to court documents, police allege Mr Vennik dragged Ms Chuah’s body onto a modified wheelbarrow, placed her in a shallow unmarked hole and covered her over with sand on his Cranbrook property.

He has been charged with neglecting duty as to burial, interfering with human remains, unlawfully disposing of human remains and failing his obligation to report a death.

Court documents relating to the Donalds, which list them at the same home address as Mr Vennik, show police claim the couple neglected their duty as to burial by not reporting the death of a person as required by the Burial and Cremation Act, and allegedly failed to report the death of Ms Chuah as soon as possible to a coroner or police officer.

On Friday, Mr and Mrs Donald – who were not in custody – pleaded not guilty to the first charge, but asked for an adjournment over the second charge.

They are not accused of being involved in Ms Chuah’s death, and neither is Mr Vennik.

Magistrate Chris Webster bailed the Donalds and committed them to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Their next court date was set down for July 19.

Mr Vennik is due to return to the Hobart Magistrates Court in May.

70yo faces court over illegal burial of woman

A MAN facing charges over the burial of a woman in a shallow grave at his property on Tasmania’s East Coast has briefly faced court.

Olaf Vennik has been charged with one count each of neglecting to bury, interfering with human remains, unlawfully disposing of human remains and failing to report a death.

The 70-year-old appeared in Hobart Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and requested an adjournment in order for him to seek legal representation.

He has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

According to charge sheets lodged with the court, Mr Vennik is accused of burying a woman in a shallow grave at his Cranbrook property on or about August 11 last year.

Police allege Mr Vennik placed the woman onto a modified wheelbarrow before putting her in an unmarked grave and covering her with sand.

The charges are alleged to be breaches of the Burial and Cremation Act 2019.

The charge sheets also show Mr Vennik is accused of not reporting the woman’s death to a coroner or police officer, an alleged breach of the Coroners Act 1995.

Mr Vennik was bailed to reappear in court in May.

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