The death of a woman in Australia’s southern Queensland has sparked calls for justice as her former partner appeared in court for the first time since he was charged with her murder.
Jana Armstrong, the mother of a four-month-old baby, went missing last week and her body was found by pig hunters on Saturday night after a four-day search, police said.
Her former partner Dharminder Singh appeared in a Darling Downs court hearing on Monday via a video link and his case was mentioned in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court wherein he has been charged with a count of murder and domestic violence offence, police officials said.
He has also been charged with arson for “wilfully and unlawfully setting fire to a motor vehicle, namely a motor car,” and breach of a bail condition, the court documents showed.
He was arrested on Sunday morning at an address in Harristown’s West Street, shortly after the body of his former partner was discovered by the police.
In the hearing, Mr Singh, a 48-year-old taxi driver, covered his face and appeared to break down.
Mr Singh’s lawyer Ramli Salehkon, outside the court on Monday, indicated that he will plead not guilty.
“My client claims his innocence,” he said, adding that the matter “will be defended”.
Armstrong was reported missing by her family on 7 July after meeting her sister, Faith Isaacs, for a brunch, following which she returned to her home in Newtown.
She was not seen again and her car was found abandoned in the middle of the street at 6am the next day, 8 July on Wednesday, at a distance of 500m from her home.
Her four-month-old baby is with Ms Isaacs and her family.
Police officials said they discovered the body of the woman after four days of searching in a steep bushland at the Redbank Creek near the Esk and Ravensbourne National Parks.
The cause of Armstrong’s death has not been revealed by the investigators. Police are looking into the movements of Mr Singh on the evening of Tuesday when his former partner was last reported alive, and in the early hours of Wednesday.
Investigators have asked the public to come forward with any assistance, any evidence such as dash cam or CCTV vision between Toowoomba and Esk, along Esk Hampton Road and the New England Highway between the hours of 10.30pm on 7 July to 1.30am on 8 July.
Court magistrate Lisa O’Neill has asked for the further brief of evidence, outlining the case against the accused, to be served by 14 September as she adjourned the case to 1 October.
Bereaved family members of Armstrong and her friends were also present in the court for the short hearing on Monday where her sister Ms Isaacs was seen nursing the four-month-old in the public gallery’s front row.
She also called for domestic violence to be tackled.
“More needs to be done; the government, they need to do more. It is just ridiculous.
“Jana, she needs justice and that’s why we are here,” she said, reported ABC News.
She also thanked the rescue and emergency workers and police for recovering the remains of her sister so “now we can lay her to rest with the dignity that she deserves”.