Couple face burial charges

themercury.com.au

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TWO more people have been charged over the alleged backyard burial of a woman in the rural East Coast township of Cranbrook.

Married couple Anthony Raymond Donald, 78, and Johanna Marolina Donald, 72, faced the Hobart Magistrates

Court on Friday jointly charged with neglecting duty as to burial and failing their obligation to report a death.

The charges relate to the death of Soo Lan Chuah and her alleged informal burial on August 11 last year.

Last month, Ms Chuah’s 70year-old partner, Olaf Vennik, faced court but did not enter pleas to four charges concerning her burial.

According to court documents, police allege Mr Vennik dragged Ms Chuah’s body on to a modified wheelbarrow, placed her in a shallow hole and covered her over with sand on his Cranbrook property.

He has been charged with neglecting duty as to burial, interfering with human remains, unlawfully disposing of human remains and failing his obligation to report a death.

Court documents relating to the Donalds, which list them at the same home address as Mr Vennik, show police allege the couple neglected their duty as to burial by not reporting the death of a person as required by the Burial and Cremation Act, and allegedly failed to report the death of Ms Chuah as soon as possible to a coroner or police officer.

On Friday, Mr and Mrs Donald — who were not in custody — pleaded not guilty to the first charge but asked for an adjournment on the second.

They are not accused of being involved in Ms Chuah’s death, and neither is Mr Vennik.

Magistrate Chris Webster bailed the Donalds and committed them to stand trial in the Supreme Court. Their next court date was set down for July 19. Mr Vennik is due to return to the Hobart Magistrates Court in May.