A murder charge against a man who was found by paramedics performing CPR on his wife after their car plunged into the Tweed River at Tumbulgum in October 2015 has been mentioned in Lismore Local Court.
Edward Kenneth Lord did not appear in court to answer to the charge over the death of his 57-year-old wife Michele, on October 20, but was represented by barrister Rod Clifford.
Mr Lord, 53, was initially charged with negligent driving causing death, over what was thought to be a tragic accident, on October 18, when police said their car became airborne before sinking into the Tweed River.
After escaping through his open window, police said Mr Lord dragged Michele from the vehicle and began performing CPR, before she was treated by paramedics and taken to Tweed Hospital, where she died two days later.
Months after the incident,Tweed Detectives launched a homicide investigation which culminated in Mr Lord’s arrest, at his Bonogin home on February 27.
At Southport Magistrates Court on March 1, Magistrate Gary Finger refused a bail application and granted an extradition order from homicide squad detectives for Mr Lord to appear at Byron Bay Local Court the following day.
At Lismore Local Court on Tuesday, Mr Clifford told Magistrate David Heilpern he was in the process of making a bail application for Mr Lord and he understood a partial brief of evidence would be available today.
He said the matter had been going for some time now, which had given the police ample time to prepare the brief of evidence, despite the charge of murder having recently been laid.
‘I take it you have been served with a set of facts,’ Mr Heilpern asked Mr Clifford.
‘There is something along those lines, but I wouldn’t concede they were facts, your honour.’ Mr Clifford replied.
Mr Heilpern told Mr Clifford that on March 2, Magistrate Michael Dakin had ordered the brief of evidence against Mr Lord be served by April 13.
He adjourned Mr Lord’s matters until April 18.
