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Charlise Mutten likely still alive when she was shot in back and head, murder trial hears | Charlise Mutten likely still alive when she was shot in back and head, murder trial hears |
(32 minutes later) | |
Court also hears nine-year-old had traces of anti-psychotic drug in her system when she died | Court also hears nine-year-old had traces of anti-psychotic drug in her system when she died |
Charlise Mutten was likely still alive when she was shot once in the back, before being shot fatally in the head, a murder trial has been told. | |
The trial has also heard that toxicology results revealed the nine-year-old had traces of a heavy-duty medication in her system which can cause severe drowsiness and disorientation in children. | |
Justin Stein, 33, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Charlise in January 2022 as he stands trial in the New South Wales supreme court. | |
Charlise’s body was found dumped in a barrel by the Colo River in the Blue Mountains four days after she was reported missing by her mother, Kallista Mutten. She had been shot twice. | |
The schoolgirl had been staying at a nearby property with Stein and Mutten at Mount Wilson at the time of her disappearance. | The schoolgirl had been staying at a nearby property with Stein and Mutten at Mount Wilson at the time of her disappearance. |
Forensic pathologist Dr Marna Du Plessis told the court on Thursday that it was possible the girl was shot first in the back and then afterwards in the face at close range – although decomposition made the exact range difficult to determine. | |
Charlise was shot from behind in the pelvis area and again in the face under the right cheek bone, from “right to left, front to back, and upwards”, according to part of an autopsy report read to the jury. | |
Hemorrhaging suggested she was still alive when she suffered the gunshot to her back, the court was told. | Hemorrhaging suggested she was still alive when she suffered the gunshot to her back, the court was told. |
Forensic testing of Charlise’s remains showed the presence of the anti-psychotic drug quetiapine, for which Stein had a prescription to treat his schizophrenia. | |
The most common side-effects of a child ingesting quetiapine were sedation or drowsiness, the trial was told on Thursday. | The most common side-effects of a child ingesting quetiapine were sedation or drowsiness, the trial was told on Thursday. |
Dr Judith Perl, a toxicologist, said based on the available evidence that it was possible – but not conclusive – to say the drug had been ingested within six hours of the girl’s death. | |
“It is impossible to estimate a dose or time when the quetiapine was ingested,” she told the court. | “It is impossible to estimate a dose or time when the quetiapine was ingested,” she told the court. |
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Perl also said it would be highly unlikely a nine-year-old would be prescribed the drug and that an adult dose ingested by a child would probably cause “significant sedation and vomiting”. | Perl also said it would be highly unlikely a nine-year-old would be prescribed the drug and that an adult dose ingested by a child would probably cause “significant sedation and vomiting”. |
“It’s a drug which can produce central nervous system suppress,” she said. “It alters the level of alertness in a person.” | “It’s a drug which can produce central nervous system suppress,” she said. “It alters the level of alertness in a person.” |
Stein told police that Charlise had been sick and vomiting when she woke up on the morning of 12 January and that he had given her two Nurofen-brand ibuprofen tablets. | Stein told police that Charlise had been sick and vomiting when she woke up on the morning of 12 January and that he had given her two Nurofen-brand ibuprofen tablets. |
But Perl told the court there were no traces of ibuprofen present in toxicology samples taken from Charlise. | But Perl told the court there were no traces of ibuprofen present in toxicology samples taken from Charlise. |
The jury also heard on Thursday that an “agitated” Stein denied any involvement in the schoolgirl’s disappearance to neighbours as search parties scoured surrounding bushland. | The jury also heard on Thursday that an “agitated” Stein denied any involvement in the schoolgirl’s disappearance to neighbours as search parties scoured surrounding bushland. |
A resident of a neighbouring property, Jane Hutt, on Thursday told the court she had met Charlise on 3 January when she went for dinner with Stein, Mutten and the girl. | A resident of a neighbouring property, Jane Hutt, on Thursday told the court she had met Charlise on 3 January when she went for dinner with Stein, Mutten and the girl. |
Hutt described Charlise as being “very loving and affectionate” with her mother. | |
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“I think they were cuddling … she was affectionate with us too,” she said. “She seemed really chatty and comfortable with adults.” | “I think they were cuddling … she was affectionate with us too,” she said. “She seemed really chatty and comfortable with adults.” |
When the search for the missing girl entered its third day, Hutt initiated a conversation with Stein in which she asked if he knew where the nine-year-old was, the court heard. | When the search for the missing girl entered its third day, Hutt initiated a conversation with Stein in which she asked if he knew where the nine-year-old was, the court heard. |
“He got up and started to get very agitated and straight away he goes, ‘Kallista has done something with the girl’,” Hutt said. | |
“I said something along the lines of, ‘Well, where do you think, what do you think Kallista has done?’” | “I said something along the lines of, ‘Well, where do you think, what do you think Kallista has done?’” |
Stein allegedly told her that Mutten wanted to keep Charlise and not return her to her grandparents, adding that the girl had been taken by one of her mother’s associates. | Stein allegedly told her that Mutten wanted to keep Charlise and not return her to her grandparents, adding that the girl had been taken by one of her mother’s associates. |
“She didn’t want to give the girl back,” Stein said, according to Hutt. | “She didn’t want to give the girl back,” Stein said, according to Hutt. |
“She wanted the three of us to run away,” he allegedly added. “That would be the easiest way for me to go back to jail.” | “She wanted the three of us to run away,” he allegedly added. “That would be the easiest way for me to go back to jail.” |
Stein was tracked driving to several locations across Sydney after Charlise’s disappearance, allegedly with the barrel containing her remains on the back of his ute. | Stein was tracked driving to several locations across Sydney after Charlise’s disappearance, allegedly with the barrel containing her remains on the back of his ute. |
Hutt said she had noticed nothing unusual in the area in the days before the girl’s disappearance was reported to police by Mutten on 14 January. | Hutt said she had noticed nothing unusual in the area in the days before the girl’s disappearance was reported to police by Mutten on 14 January. |
On that day, Hutt said she had a conversation with Stein’s mother, Annemie. | On that day, Hutt said she had a conversation with Stein’s mother, Annemie. |
“[She] said to me, ‘I need a drink,’” Hutt told the jury. “She did tell me it was Charlise who went missing.” | “[She] said to me, ‘I need a drink,’” Hutt told the jury. “She did tell me it was Charlise who went missing.” |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |