Charges dropped for trio of seniors over alleged East Coast backyard burial

Charges have been dropped for three people accused of illegally burying a woman in a backyard near Bicheno.

A TRIO of senior citizens will no longer face the Supreme Court over the alleged illegal backyard burial of a 65-year-old woman near Bicheno.

On Monday, 70-year-old Olaf Vennik was due to face the Supreme Court of Tasmania after pleading not guilty to two counts of neglecting duty as to burial and one count of interfering with human remains.

The alleged incident took place in August last year at the East Coast township of Cranbrook, with police saying they’d located a grave containing a female body three months later.

Mr Vennik had not yet pleaded to charges of unlawfully disposing of human remains and failing his obligation to report a death

Senior married couple Anthony Raymond Donald, 78, and Johanna Marolina Donald, 72, were also due to face court after being charged with neglecting duty as to burial and failing in their obligation to report a death.

But Justice Michael Brett heard from Crown prosecutors on Monday that the complaints against Mr and Mrs Donald would be discharged along with the indictable offences against Mr Vennik.

None of the trio, who reside at the same property, were accused of being involved in Ms Chuah’s death.

None of them have spent time in custody over the alleged incident.

Mr Vennik will return to the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date over the summary offences.

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