Major update in the murder case of Charlise Mutten
The stepfather of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten will fight the charges of Charlise's murder after pleading not guilty in court.
Justin Stein, 32, appeared at Penrith Local Court via audiovisual link on Friday morning, facing a range of charges including murder, interfering with a corpse, and possession of child abuse material.
Stein is accused of murdering nine-year-old Charlise, the daughter of his fiancé, in January 2022 and dumping her body in a plastic barrel.
Charlise's body was found with gunshot wounds in bushland near the Colo River in NSW’s Central Tablelands, after she was staying in Blue Mountains on a family holiday.
Mr Stein’s lawyer Peter Katsoolis entered not guilty pleas to the charges of murder, interfering with a corpse and possession of child abuse material.
When asked by Magistrate Fiona Toose whether he was pleading not guilty, Mr Stein said, “Yes, that’s correct”.
He will be arraigned in the Supreme Court in July.
Outside the courtroom, Mr Katsoolis told reporters Mr Stein will be defending the charges.
“He’s maintained his innocence from the outset in relation to these charges, and they’ll be vigorously defended,” Mr Katsoolis said.
Charlise had been visiting her mother and Mr Stein at a Blue Mountains property, where police allege she was killed.
There is no suggestion that Charlise’s mother was involved in her death, and she has never been accused of any wrongdoing in regards to her death.
Prior to her death, Charlise had been living in Coolangatta, QLD, with her grandparents.
Mr Stein was arrested in January 2022 and has remained behind bars on remand ever since.
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