Mother's murder trial continues

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The trial continues for the Scone woman accused of killing her toddler 16 years ago.

The court heard she told a family friend she sacrificed the child to the Wolf Man. She allegedly said the wolf man was after her and she was searching for the "chosen one" to give her a baby girl.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of killing her 16-month-old daughter sometime between Christmas 2000 and Christmas 2001.

Previously the court heard the woman told a Red Cross worker the girl was in a better place and told others she was living with another family in an informal adoption arrangement.

She has told varying accounts of the girl's whereabouts over the years but never said exactly where she was.

The woman has a long history of mental illness.

Newcastle Supreme Court Image abc.net.au

Accused murderer's trial begins

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The toddler who went missing from Scone more than 16 years ago still hasn't been found, but her mother and accused murderer's trial began yesterday in Newcastle Supreme Court.

The 44-year-old woman, who can't be identified for legal reasons, stands accused of murdering her 16 month old daughter between Christmas 2000 and Christmas 2001.

She was arrested in Scone last year when community services became involved with another child - she has been diagnosed with mental illness and Crown Prosecutor Lee Carr alleges when asked where her daughter was she gave varying accounts and never told authorities her exact whereabouts.

One such account includes the mother alleging she sent the toddler to live with an elderly couple. But investigations into the alleged couple found they didn't even exist.

The Crown said in his opening address: "the accused killed the child and disposed of the body. That body having never been found".

The trial continues.