I’M NOT GUILTY
WIFE’S MURDER PLEA OVER BURNED HUSBAND:
ANGELA Surtees has pleaded not guilty to murdering her husband at their Whittington home earlier this year.
The 33-year-old entered the plea at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday as the case was fast-tracked to the Supreme Court.
Ms Surtees has been in custody since she was charged with murdering her husband, Daniel Surtees, on January 25.
It is alleged she poured petrol on the 36-year-old before setting him alight as slept on a couch at their property.
The mother of five appeared at court via video link from a remand centre.
When asked to state her plea to the murder charge, Ms Surtees replied: “Not guilty, Your Honour.”
The case will now be transferred to the Supreme Court in a bid to expedite proceedings.
Typically, homicide matters must go through a committal hearing process in the Magistrates’ Court before an accused can be committed to stand trial. However, a growing backlog of cases linked to pandemic restrictions has caused significant delays.
The Supreme Court has responded by offering to conduct certain pre-trial hearings in an effort to reach trials at an earlier stage. The decision to send the case straight to the Supreme Court came as it was revealed a
Geelong hospital doctor had changed her mind about giving a statement to prosecutors.
The doctor, who allegedly treated Ms Surtees for burns following her husband’s death, had initially declined to provide evidence.
A hearing had been scheduled for November to crossexamine the doctor in a courtroom, however it was vacated yesterday after it was discovered the medico had now provided a statement.
At the time of the alleged murder, Ms Surtees and her husband had been married for four years.
Emergency services were called to their home about 8.30pm after Mr Surtees sustained severe burns.
He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries the following day.
Ms Surtees was remanded in custody until a directions hearing at the Supreme Court on June 22.