14 May 2024 , 14:39
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A nine-year-old schoolgirl really liked her alleged killer and was looking forward to Christmas with him and her mother, a court has heard.
Justin Laurens Stein is accused of murdering Charlise Mutten on or around January 12, 2022, at Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. He is on trial in Australia for her murder and the girl's grandfather, Clinton Mutten has appeared as the first witness in the NSW Supreme Court trial, which is expected to last six weeks.
Charlise had been visiting Stein and her mother, Kallista Mutten, over the holiday break. She had lived with her grandparents since she was four after her mother - who was a long-term drug user - was unable to care for her properly, the jury has been told.
Justin Stein is accused of murderGiving evidence today, granddad Clinton Mutten told the jury that Charlise had “really liked” Stein and on one occasion asked if he thought the accused murderer would "be a good dad". He told the court the youngster said she was “happy and excited” about the trip and he was not concerned for her safety despite the couple’s history of drug use.
Stein’s defence lawyer, Carolyn Davenport, suggested that at the time of Charlise’s visit her mother was continuing to use the drug ice intravenously, but Clinton Mutten said he was under the impression both had “cleaned their act up”.
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Mutten described his granddaughter as an academic all-rounder who loved animals and had dreams of becoming a veterinarian. He said: “I took her to school, I was the one who sat down at the parent-teacher interviews. I was very much involved with Charlise.”
Stein denies killing Charlise (9news.com)Mutten said his daughter Kallista had maintained a "very strong" relationship with the nine-year-old despite their distance and would contact her regularly. "She would look forward to communicating with her," he said. "It was always there and it was unconditional."
The court was told the nine-year-old travelled from the Gold Coast to Sydney in December 2021 with plans to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve with her mother and Stein.
On the evening of January 12, Charlise was taken back to Mount Wilson by Stein alone, while Kallista Mutten remained at the caravan, prosecutors said. Charlise was reported missing by her mother on January 14.
He was spotted on CCTVCCTV images captured Stein at a BP service station at Marsden Park, in northwest Sydney, the next day. He was towing a boat with his Holden Colorado ute, which was also allegedly transporting a barrel containing Charlise's body.
The barrel was found wedged in a tree near the Colo River, northwest of Sydney, on January 18, four days after Charlise was reported missing. She had been shot once in the head and once in the lower back.
Stein denies the charges. The trial continues.