scone.com.auMurder charges dropped in Ian Pullen case
THE murder charges against Joshua Knight and Nicole Mason will likely be withdrawn before the case proceeds to the District or Supreme Court.
The pair faced Newcastle Local Court yesterday after being charged with the murder of 43 year old New Zealand firefighter, Ian Pullen in October.
Joshua Knight, 30 and Nicole Mason, 31 were charged with the murder of New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen.
Police will allege Mr Knight was driving a white Toyota Hilux, which struck Mr Pullen in the early hours of Saturday, September 29 2018.
Mr Knight and Ms Mason then returned to the scene a short time later, exited the vehicle and struck Mr Pullen in the head with an object.
The decision to remove the murder charges came after an autopsy determined Mr Pullen would have died from the vehicle impact, regardless of whether Knight and Mason had later beaten him.
Knight will now face the charge fail to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment.
Mason will face charges of attempted murder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of concealing a serious indictable offence, which may result in a life sentence.
Ivy-Jean Ward aged 27, Lili-Jane Sales aged 21 and Bradley Bowtell aged 37 have also been charged in relation to Mr Pullen’s death.
Tags: Ian Pullen, Joshua Knight, murder investigation, Nicole Mason