Charge upgraded to murder

A WOMAN charged in relation to the alleged murder of a Risdon Vale tattoo artist has had the charge against her upgraded.

Margaret Anne Otto, 45, of Risdon Vale, appeared in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday morning.

The court heard Ms Otto, who had previously pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder, failing to report a killing, and perverting justice, was now charged with murder.

Crown prosecutor Madeleine Wilson said prosecutors had undertaken an “extensive review” of the case and yesterday filed an indictment jointly charging Ms Otto and Bradley Scott Purkiss, 41, with Dwayne Robert Davies’ murder.

Mr Purkiss, of Elderslie, who also appeared in court yesterday morning, has previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

“This is a matter where the investigation continues in relation to forensic evidence,” Ms Wilson said.

“It’s not anticipated that a trial will be heard this year.”

Ms Otto’s lawyer, Caroline Graves, said her client would need time to consider whether she wanted to apply for a pretrial hearing.

“I understand there’s no new evidence in relation to Ms Otto,” Ms Graves said.

“It’s simply a decision that’s been made as a review of the overall file.”

Ms Otto and Mr Purkiss were both remanded in custody to reappear in court next month.

Mr Davies, 47, was reported missing on May 27 last year.

Human remains, found a week later between Oatlands and Orford, were exhumed and identified as Mr Davies’.

At the time, police said an autopsy had revealed a gunshot as the cause of death.