An Adelaide woman accused of murdering her ex-wife, whose remains were found set alight at a home in Adelaide’s south, has applied for bail.
Anastasia Marshall, 29, from Para Hills West, appeared via video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday charged with the death of Krystal Marshall.
Krystal Marshall was found dead at the scene of a house fire on Barracoota Crescent at Aldinga Beach on October 20.
The 29-year-old denied the charges.
Police have already charged a 48-year-old man with Krystal Marshall’s murder.
The man is known to the victim, but his name and image cannot be made public because of a court-ordered suppression.
Ms Marshall’s lawyer, Nicholas Vadasz, told the court his client was “extremely frightened” of the male co-accused, who allegedly provided a statement to police after the incident.
“Who, I read, has made full and frank submissions to be solely responsible of the death of Mrs Marshall,” Mr Vadasz said.
The defence lawyer told the court the male accused had been living with the two women because “rather ironically” his own property had been the subject of a house fire.
“He moved into the house shared by the deceased and the accused,” Mr Vadasz said.
“The deceased then told him to leave … it appears to be that the co-accused was attempting to take over the lease of the property.”
Police continue investigation into alleged murder
During the hearing, Ms Marshall sobbed and at one point placed her head on the desk in front of her before a prison guard asked her to sit up and face the proceedings.
The court heard police advised Ms Marshall to obtain legal advice after they had started investigating the incident.
Her lawyer told the court she was not a flight risk, given she remained in the community despite knowing the police were considering laying charges.
The prosecutor urged the magistrate to reject the bail application due to the seriousness of the alleged offending.
The magistrate adjourned the bail application hearing so Ms Marshall’s lawyer could consider further prosecution documents.
SA Police Detective Superintendent Des Bray said at a press conference on Thursday that investigators want to speak to a person who made an online report to Crime Stoppers on October 22.
“It’s very, very important to the investigators that that person … rings into Crime Stoppers and asks to be connected with a Major Crime investigator working on the Krystal Marshall case,” he previously said.
Superintendent Bray said detectives were searching for a blue Holden Astra and a white delivery van that were seen in the area around the time of the alleged murder.
Police said that, on October 19, the driver of the Astra stopped outside 26 Barracoota Crescent and spoke to someone who emerged from the property.
The following day, the driver of the white van stopped outside 28 Barracoota Crescent and watched the smoke rise from Ms Marshall’s home, police said.
Anastasia Marshall faces court again in March.
