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Cobram assault case delayed for crucial reports

By Monique Preston

Jun 26, 2024

The case of a man accused of assaulting a woman who was later found dead has been delayed.

The court matter of a man accused of assaulting a woman who was later found dead in her Cobram home has been adjourned for the results of specialist reports.

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John Torney, 39, of Cobram, is charged with intentionally causing injury, assault, unlawful assault of a female and unlawful assault between April 20 and 23.

These charges relate to an alleged assault on Cobram woman Emma Bates, 49, who was found dead in her Cobram home on April 23.

Mr Torney is also facing court charged with persistently contravening a family violence order, and eight separate counts of contravening a family violence intervention order in relation to other matters and different alleged victims.

Mr Torney’s solicitor Kyle O’Grady indicated to the court that the four assault charges related to Ms Bates “remain disputed”, while negotiations were ongoing between the prosecution and defence for the eight other charges.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Brent O’Grady applied for the case to be adjourned to allow for a pathology report and a neuropathology report to be completed.

He said the results of the two reports were expected by the end of July.

Mr O’Grady argued that his client was in custody and he wanted to reduce any delays in the case; however, the prosecutor argued Mr Torney could apply for bail and he said the wait for the two medical reports was “not an excessive delay”.

Magistrate Allison Vaughan said she was satisfied it would be appropriate for the material from the reports to be available to both parties before the matter returned to court.

Mr Torney remains in custody, with his matter next before the court in August.