Murder jury discharged

THE jury has been discharged in the trial of a Gold Coast man accused of killing a Brisbane mother at her Norman Park home in 2014.

Jacob Michael Smith, 40, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court last Monday to one count each of murder, rape, attempted rape, assault occasioning bodily harm, and two charges of stealing.

But the jury was discharged yesterday after an application was made for an adjournment of the trial due to additional forensic evidence coming to light.

A new trial is expected to take place in 2018. Smith was remanded in custody.