scone.com.auHutchinson Case Begins
TODAY Cate Hutchinson will appear in Tamworth court to present on a charge of murder in relation to her toddler Leonie Hutchinson.
Kate Hutchinson, accused of murder
Ms Hutchinson is required to enter into a plea of guilty or not guilty today.
Leonie Hutchinson was last seen by Scone locals in December 2000, when she was approximately 18 months of age.
In January 2004 the department of child services and police visited Ms Hutchinson to discuss another matter when they became concerned with the whereabouts of Leonie, she was then listed as a missing person and an investigation began.
A coronial inquest began in December 2011 at Muswellbrook and in December 2013 the coroner directed police to search a property in Stafford Street, Scone, but it failed to locate Leonie or result in an arrest at the time.
When criminal charges were laid on March 16 in Lismore the ongoing coronial inquest was adjourned to Glebe on October 14.
The criminal case has drawn comparisons to Keli Lane, the Australian water polo player who was convicted of the murder of her newborn daughter Tegan, as it was also reliant on circumstantial evidence.
Other notable cases where people have been convicted of murder based on circumstantial evidence include the matters of Kerry Whelan and Dorothy Davis.
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