A man accused of murdering a Whyalla woman in July last year allegedly stomped on her face and chest repeatedly after a "blood-shedding event" in the spa bath of the deceased's family home.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Crown prosecutor Mark Norman told the Supreme Court in Adelaide on Monday that forensic evidence would be presented to put Bevan Brougham at the scene of the crime at the time Dianne Rogan died.
He alleged that Brougham, who has pleaded not guilty before Justice John Sulan, had been in the spa when he first attacked the deceased and continued to assault her in the garden "stomping on the deceased's face and chest".
Mr Norman said Brougham, the son of the Rogan family's neighbours, had been sexually motivated to attack Rogan, although there was no evidence suggesting sexual attack or rape.
However, there had been the "intention" to cause grievous bodily harm - possibly after he was "refused sex".
Rogan, who at the time of her death was deputy registrar at Whyalla Magistrate's Court, had lived with her husband Kevin at Sharp Street for 30 years.
Both were respected in the community.
Mr Rogan had been travelling overseas in June and July.
Dianne Rogan had worked at the court as normal on July 11 and was seen walking her dog on the beach early in the evening, Mr Norman told the court.
She had made a call to her dentist at 6.15pm and did not appear to have been intoxicated.
Mr Norman said the accused, who had been at his parents' home having dinner called Rogan, whose number was stored in his phone, at 6.41pm.
He said Brougham had allegedly "encouraged her to have sex with him", claiming Rogan had driven him home to Elliott Street at about 8.30pm after being rejected.
Mr Norman said Rogan's daughter had discovered her mother's naked body outside the spa - with her head away from it - on July 12.
Her injuries to the neck, head and face, were inconsistent with her falling.
Rogan had a fractured sternum and her death most likely occurred through "blunt chest trauma".
He said Brougham was later examined and found to have injured knuckles, right foot and left eye, from which a piece of white plastic was later removed.
Mr Norman said seven pieces of a "reddish brown" plastic chair were in the garden area of the Rogan home and broken "in some dynamic way", along with pieces of a broken water filter.
The post-mortem, on July 13, revealed that the deceased had a high blood alcohol level.
Mr Norman said there had been no evidence of forced entry.
Marie Shaw, QC, for Brougham, said she would be taking issue with several theories presented by the prosecution that were "pure speculation".
The court plans to travel to Whyalla on Thursday to examine the crime scene.
The case, before a judge only, continues.
