Australia CHARLISE MUTTEN: Crown v Justin Stein for 2022 murder of 9-year-old step-daughter *GUILTY*

Search continues for missing nine-year-old girl in the NSW Blue Mountains

www.9news.com.au

Missing nine-year-old girl was holidaying in the Blue Mountains, search continues​

Police are continuing an extensive search for a missing nine-year-old girl who was holidaying in the NSW Blue Mountains.

Charlise Mutten, 9, was reported missing from a Mt Wilson property at about 8.20am on Friday and has reportedly been missing since Thursday.

Acting Superintendent John Nelson said Charlise is originally from Queensland and has been holidaying with her family in Mt Wilson over the school break.


Superintendent Nelson said Mt Wilson is a large area to search and police will use all resources possible to try and find the girl.

"The Mt Wilson area is a small community surrounded by bushland and some rugged bushland," he said.

The search restarted at first light with police holding grave concerns for the girl's welfare.

Crews looked in tents and bins for any sign of the child yesterday.


Officers are investigating all possibilities in the search for Charlise.

"She's a nine-year-old girl and she's missing we're here to pull out every stop that we can," Superintendent Nelson said.

"We're not discounting any scenario at this stage."


A woman was comforted by ambulance officers at the search centre before being taken to a Katoomba hospital.

Police are appealing for help from the public and have sent out geo-targeting messages.

Her parents' house has also been searched and is under police guard.

Superintendent Nelson said it is a "traumatic" experience for the family.

A car was seized in Penrith by police yesterday.

9News understands the homicide squad has been called in to assist local detectives.





Media - CHARLISE MUTTEN: Missing from Mt. Wilson, NSW since 13 Jan 2022 - Age 9

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm sure we all bristle at the irony of a child murderer requesting they ensure his safety. Didn't care about hers now did he... His mother might worry about his safety in jail but I sure don't. Let him fend for himself and put him with everyone else. She sure had fend for herself and had no chance against the great disadvantage of child against adult male.

 

[Kimster]

Prison justice must be common in all parts of the world.

Schoolgirl's stepdad fears for safety in prison charged with murder

The body of nine-year-old Charlise was found in a barrel on Tuesday night while her stepdad Justin Stein is in custody charged with her murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The man accused of murdering his stepdaughter Charlise Mutten has asked to be kept away from other prisoners while in custody over the alleged killing.

The body of nine-year-old Charlise was found in a barrel on Tuesday night in scrub near the Colo River - an hour from where she disappeared on a private property in Mount Wilson, in NSW's Blue Mountains.

Justin Stein, 31, appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday morning where he did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

His barrister told Magistrate Robert Williams his client needed his medication for mental health issues while in custody, adding he had been on 'high dosages' for many years.

He also expressed Stein had concerns for his safety.

'The other matter I'm instructed to raise relates to his concerns for personal safety in custody,' the barrister said.

'He has asked the court to recommend a no association classification.'

Concerns for his safety? He doesn’t seem to be concerned about a little girl’s safety, does he? I have no sympathy for this guy. Sorry. Not sorry.

 

[RoundPeg]

Cause of death: gunshot wound

The mother is out of the hospital and has been questioned. From what I understand, she had no idea about all this. Correct me if I misread.

Police reveal Charlise Mutten was killed by gunshot wound

A post-mortem examination has revealed nine-year-old Charlise Mutten was shot dead, as police continue investigations into her alleged murder.

www.smh.com.au

 

[GrandmaBear]

I went into the article and the box for registering came up. I should have just keep reading the page a little at a time behind the box. Instead I did what I never do. I registered so I could continue reading. Put in a not oft used email. Of course then they want me to go to the link in my email!! I don't know the PW offhand.

Anyhow, I now can't read it at all. What does it say about the mother? I found a DM article that says only that she says she was not there when daughter was killed and that she is being treated as a witness. Is that all this article above says too or is there more?

 

[RoundPeg]

I went into the article and the box for registering came up. I should have just keep reading the page a little at a time behind the box. Instead I did what I never do. I registered so I could continue reading. Put in a not oft used email. Of course then they want me to go to the link in my email!! I don't know the PW offhand.

Anyhow, I now can't read it at all. What does it say about the mother? I found a DM article that says only that she says she was not there when daughter was killed and that she is being treated as a witness. Is that all this article above says too or is there more?

Thats about it. If you go to the article, hit the down arrow on the upper right of the pop up. It should close. It's a free article.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Thats about it. If you go to the article, hit the down arrow on the upper right of the pop up. It should close. It's a free article.

There isn't one now because I registered I guess. I can go back to the home page in the news site but if I go to the article the same thing happens. That's ok. I just wondered if there was more about the mother. So they finally interview her and that's all the info they release? I also saw she has been moved from the hospital to some other accommodation...

Pretty tight lipped LE is with her so far then. I'd say they already knew she wasn't there when the child was killed before they even talked to her. I mean they said themselves she was in the car of the fiance and the mother had left her with him. So in other words, they have talked to her but released nothing new at all from that.

So he shot her... That's the cause of death. I wonder if she has any other injuries. I don't like that she was shot but found in a barrel. What I mean is I hope she was not in the barrel when he shot her. I think that is doubtful but it crossed my mind. Not that any way it happened matters I guess, it is horrid regardless. I just hope she had no terror. I guess there is the slightest possibility this was something like intoxicated negligence with a gun or something but I doubt it was any accident for some reason.

So now they are looking for the firearm and we know he was around this child and using a gun that he must have had on him while she was in his care. That's about all I got from the DM article I found, that's why I didn't link it, and that they interviewed the mother but no further info from it.

 

[Kimster]

So, why all the flurry of calls to the mom? Maybe he was coming up with excuses while she came home and was looking for Charlise?

 

[GrandmaBear]

So, why all the flurry of calls to the mom? Maybe he was coming up with excuses while she came home and was looking for Charlise?

My guess is LE is calling her a witness for now. It seems to me she wasn't present when the child was killed but likely knew after and before she called authorities. She almost had to with those calls, unless the calls were to try to involve her/taunt her by her boyfriend which I think is unlikely. She may not have physically helped him hide her either and it seems she didn't. So what would she be guilty of I wonder? Obstruction I imagine at least/not coming forward... I don't know if she can be charged with helping to conceal a crime because she didn't report it right away maybe? I guess that's aiding and abetting if she purposely waited to call in until she perhaps knew he disposed of the girl.

Anyhow I think it likely LE is just not sharing and is still investigating to determine what she is guilty of. It's pretty hard to believe she had no involvement or knowledge.

I want to know why he shot her and if it was intentional. They treat this as if it was or seem to. I mean they talk of not knowing a motive. You don't have a motive with an accident.

 

[RoundPeg]

So, why all the flurry of calls to the mom? Maybe he was coming up with excuses while she came home and was looking for Charlise?

That could be. Even in light of her bad decisions, she truly may have been distraught and legitimately collapsed in retrospect.

 

[GrandmaBear]

That could be. Even in light of her bad decisions, she truly may have been distraught and legitimately collapsed in retrospect.

I'd have to look back but it seemed like the calls were at times though that he may have informed her like that he went to get sand bags or weights, then when he finally did dispose of her, etc. I guess though we don't know what he said to her. And she went a few days past when she would have first been killed before calling too didn't she? It all seems a bit too "pat" to me, the timing and more but I guess it is possible she chose to believe him for a few days or didn't go check and he was calling her in the meantime and telling her her lies or that all was fine as he looked for a disposal site...

 

[RoundPeg]

‘An egregious act’: Police allege body of Charlise Mutten driven 200km across Sydney

[ad_1] “It’s an unimaginable and egregious act,” he said.“This is a nine-year-old girl that’s been shot dead. Then placed in a barrel and placed on the banks of the Colo River.”The red ute and boat…

tifnews.com

200 km = 124 miles

 

[GrandmaBear]

To add to my above post, and didn't she ask to talk to her daughter in those days when he was calling the mom? If she really did not know about this I still don't understand that. She had this girl she probably didn't see that often for a holiday and in her care... Let's even say he put her off once or twice like oh we are at the house and she just ran to get the mail. Okay well then you say have her call me later, and did she? Or I'll wait.

The only way this mother imo is innocent of any knowledge, at least after the fact, is if she gave him the benefit of the doubt and was naive enough to not wonder why he did not put her daughter on or where she was when he was calling her...

She may well be entirely innocent but there still has to be an explanation for all that and we haven't heard it yet.

 

[kdg411]

To add to my above post, and didn't she ask to talk to her daughter in those days when he was calling the mom? If she really did not know about this I still don't understand that. She had this girl she probably didn't see that often for a holiday and in her care... Let's even say he put her off once or twice like oh we are at the house and she just ran to get the mail. Okay well then you say have her call me later, and did she? Or I'll wait.

The only way this mother imo is innocent of any knowledge, at least after the fact, is if she gave him the benefit of the doubt and was naive enough to not wonder why he did not put her daughter on or where she was when he was calling her...

She may well be entirely innocent but there still has to be an explanation for all that and we haven't heard it yet.

I agree! Something is still off that doesn't make sense. I can't explain it but the question about why Charlise was with the fiance & not her Mother is bothering me.

 

[Kimster]

I agree! Something is still off that doesn't make sense. I can't explain it but the question about why Charlise was with the fiance & not her Mother is bothering me.

Especially for that length of time! It wasn’t like she was at work for a few hours or something.

 

[GrandmaBear]

From Article in Post #131 above, just trying to arrange and group some things so I can put it together a bit better and then let thoughts come.

“Justin was alone with Charlise on the Tuesday night.
“We allege the murder happened on Tuesday night (January 11) or the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“The evidence all suggests that Justin Stein is the only person responsible for the murder.”
Careful wording. All they keep saying is she wasn't responsible for the murder. They say nothing of her knowledge after.

Police are investigating why the primary school girl was left alone with Mr Stein and say the plastic barrel used to dump her body was from the Mount Wilson property.
They have taken a formal statement from her now. They say it matches her original version of events or something like that. So they know from her, and likely from him when they interviewed him early on WHY they say the girl was left alone with Mr. Stein, they may not be sharing the answers with us, but I'm sure they were asked why she was alone with him. Their responses may not be the truth but they know what the reason was said to be of why mom left her with Stein, how could they not?

Detective Superintendent Doherty said there were gaps in the police’s timeline of events after Charlise’s killing.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this red Holden Colorado towing a boat, any suspicious activity or unusual activity around the car and the boat at any of those locations or other locations,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
So there are gaps and in those gaps what was going on... Where was mom and what did mom think they were doing either and where did she think they were?? The cops don't know where he was in these gaps so again, his and her initial interviews and now her formal statement has to have covered these things, I am sure the questions were probably asked... Where did he say he was? Where did she think he was or her daughter was? We know her daughter was already dead but where was he? Where was mom? They don't actually say they know where mom was the entire number of days other than staying in the Caravan park. They know for a fact she never left nor had company? They don't really say, just as they don't say where mom thought she was or even he was.

Putting these together as to timeline:
“We allege the murder happened on Tuesday night (January 11) or the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He confirmed Charlise’s mother was staying at a caravan park at the time of the alleged murder.
Charlise was reported missing on January 14 and police seized a red Holden ute, which belonged to Mr Stein, later that night.
Detective Superintendent Doherty said there were gaps in the police’s timeline of events after Charlise’s killing.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this red Holden Colorado towing a boat, any suspicious activity or unusual activity around the car and the boat at any of those locations or other locations,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
So even though they don't know the exact time or day of the murder, just a range, they know without doubt mom was at the caravan park. And so also at least from Tues. night the 11th to when mom called LE at 8:20 a.m. on Friday child was alone with Stein in mom's head (she was already dead)... But she never saw Stein either and cops don't know where he was but know where mom was for these days? They don't actually say that but they don't say otherwise... At any time in this period did mom see Stein? We know daughter was already dead. That's a long time from Tues. night to Friday morn. And to not see your fiance OR your daughter. She hears from him but not her daughter as that's not possible. They are looking for people who saw the Ute in this time period. Where did he disappear to? Back to Wildenstein or where? Does this Ute have GPS? He was somewhere. He talked to someone. He stayed somewhere or did he drive around steady for days on end without sleep and with the boat on? Mom never wondered? They know mom's whereabouts this entire time? How?

Just thoughts as they came to me. Random I guess. There is a LOT here they do know that isn't being shared. We know they have phone records and more. There is nothing in here at all that confirms they know all about mom's actions, whereabouts at all times or if she knew anything after the murder or not. Tons missing yet.

 

[Guess Who]

I agree! Something is still off that doesn't make sense. I can't explain it but the question about why Charlise was with the fiance & not her Mother is bothering me.

I'm thinking she "collapsed" in panic knowing the gig was up if the info that she was dead for a few days before being reported missing is true.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I agree! Something is still off that doesn't make sense. I can't explain it but the question about why Charlise was with the fiance & not her Mother is bothering me.

That is the burning question isn't it? And were these two even on holiday together with Charlise? Articles vary but it was said in one they split time or something like that at the caravan park and the wedding venue... I take that almost like if one of us went to see our sister but then we stayed in a motel but we'd go over there for the day or for dinner. BUT these two places were something like an hour apart so it doesn't fit....

 

[Kimster]

From Article in Post #131 above, just trying to arrange and group some things so I can put it together a bit better and then let thoughts come.

“Justin was alone with Charlise on the Tuesday night.
“We allege the murder happened on Tuesday night (January 11) or the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“The evidence all suggests that Justin Stein is the only person responsible for the murder.”
Careful wording. All they keep saying is she wasn't responsible for the murder. They say nothing of her knowledge after.

Police are investigating why the primary school girl was left alone with Mr Stein and say the plastic barrel used to dump her body was from the Mount Wilson property.
They have taken a formal statement from her now. They say it matches her original version of events or something like that. So they know from her, and likely from him when they interviewed him early on WHY they say the girl was left alone with Mr. Stein, they may not be sharing the answers with us, but I'm sure they were asked why she was alone with him. Their responses may not be the truth but they know what the reason was said to be of why mom left her with Stein, how could they not?

Detective Superintendent Doherty said there were gaps in the police’s timeline of events after Charlise’s killing.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this red Holden Colorado towing a boat, any suspicious activity or unusual activity around the car and the boat at any of those locations or other locations,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
So there are gaps and in those gaps what was going on... Where was mom and what did mom think they were doing either and where did she think they were?? The cops don't know where he was in these gaps so again, his and her initial interviews and now her formal statement has to have covered these things, I am sure the questions were probably asked... Where did he say he was? Where did she think he was or her daughter was? We know her daughter was already dead but where was he? Where was mom? They don't actually say they know where mom was the entire number of days other than staying in the Caravan park. They know for a fact she never left nor had company? They don't really say, just as they don't say where mom thought she was or even he was.

Putting these together as to timeline:
“We allege the murder happened on Tuesday night (January 11) or the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He confirmed Charlise’s mother was staying at a caravan park at the time of the alleged murder.
Charlise was reported missing on January 14 and police seized a red Holden ute, which belonged to Mr Stein, later that night.
Detective Superintendent Doherty said there were gaps in the police’s timeline of events after Charlise’s killing.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen this red Holden Colorado towing a boat, any suspicious activity or unusual activity around the car and the boat at any of those locations or other locations,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
So even though they don't know the exact time or day of the murder, just a range, they know without doubt mom was at the caravan park. And so also at least from Tues. night the 11th to when mom called LE at 8:20 a.m. on Friday child was alone with Stein in mom's head (she was already dead)... But she never saw Stein either and cops don't know where he was but know where mom was for these days? They don't actually say that but they don't say otherwise... At any time in this period did mom see Stein? We know daughter was already dead. That's a long time from Tues. night to Friday morn. And to not see your fiance OR your daughter. She hears from him but not her daughter as that's not possible. They are looking for people who saw the Ute in this time period. Where did he disappear to? Back to Wildenstein or where? Does this Ute have GPS? He was somewhere. He talked to someone. He stayed somewhere or did he drive around steady for days on end without sleep and with the boat on? Mom never wondered? They know mom's whereabouts this entire time? How?

Just thoughts as they came to me. Random I guess. There is a LOT here they do know that isn't being shared. We know they have phone records and more. There is nothing in here at all that confirms they know all about mom's actions, whereabouts at all times or if she knew anything after the murder or not. Tons missing yet.

This is a really good breakdown. The fact that Mum didn’t hear from Charlise for all that period of time is very strange. Was she too scared of him to call the police? Did she think in her own mind that he wouldn’t really hurt her daughter? Were they fighting? I just don’t get it.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is a really good breakdown. The fact that Mum didn’t hear from Charlise for all that period of time is very strange. Was she too scared of him to call the police? Did she think in her own mind that he wouldn’t really hurt her daughter? Were they fighting? I just don’t get it.

Thanks, I get verbose a lot lol but I tried with that one to be concise but it's not perfect. Just tried to group things so my thoughts could be sorted.

Yeah, throughout this case, I keep wondering often if they were fighting. The thing is though that generally in such a fight with a couple, he would take off and the child would stay with her as the bio mom. Or mom and daughter would leave and go to say grandma's house to be safe and away. But HE had Charlise. Not unheard of though.

Maybe a year ago there was a case where I think the woman and her son were from Vegas and she lived with a bf. She went to see her mom in another state and left her young son with him. I believe if I recall correctly they were fighting over the phone state(s) away from each other while he was in control of her son. I'm not sure if he threatened to do something to him or told her he would if she didn't get back or not. That part I can't recall but it seems like maybe he did. Anyhow, son does end up dead. I think they finally found him in a dumpster or garbage can in Vegas and not far away. The woman if I recall was an escort or prost. They lived in a tiny apartment or hotel type suite with monthly rent, a stressful small place for three and one a toddler I'm sure. No money it seemed. I think there were potty training issues, maybe a lack of diapers, no money. This is off the top of my head as to how it seemed to me. I could go on with yet another case but this one here could be something like that...

Maybe he offered to watch her or mom asked him to initially too... And then maybe a fight over something or he was tired of watching her... Hard to say. The caravan park isn't fancy nor where they stayed... Did he take her to Wildenstein for an outing? Was there maybe a pool? Maybe for dinner? It could be so simple as he was going for groceries or supplies and offered to take her with and then maybe took her to his "shack" on the wedding property for not good purposes...? Was mom maybe sick or something? He just offered to give Charlise a fun day and then never brought her back? Yeah, the burning question is WHY was she with him and how long was she supposed to be with him...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

What Charlise's mother was told by accused killer after daughter vanished

Charlise Mutten's mother believed what her fiance, now accused killer, told her about the whereabouts of her daughter before she suspected something was wrong.

www.skynews.com.au

Kallista Mutten makes statement to NSW Police about the hours leading up to Charlise's disappearance in Blue Mountains​

Charlise Mutten's mother believed what her fiance, now accused killer, told her about the whereabouts of her daughter before she suspected something was wrong.

Kallista Mutten reportedly gave a statement to detectives last week saying she spoke with Justin Stein on January 13 - the day he allegedly stuffed the nine-year-old's body inside a plastic barrel and drove around Sydney before dumping it by the Colo River in the Blue Mountains.

Ms Mutten said Stein explained why Charlise was not on the 31-year-old's family's sprawling Mt Wilson property after she left her in his care only days earlier while she was staying at a caravan park 80 kilometres away.

While she initially believed Stein, the reportedly pregnant mother became suspicious early the next morning on January 14 before she raised the alarm with authorities.

"He gave a story about where the kid was and she believed him, then later on she got concerned and reports her missing," a police source told The Daily Telegraph.