Court Rejects Application to Separate Charges in Jana Armstrong Murder Case

A magistrate has rejected an application by the defence lawyer of former taxi driver Dharminder Singh to separate an unrelated domestic violence charge and an assault charge from his murder case. Singh, 48, faces charges of murder, a domestic violence offence, and arson involving the car of Toowoomba mother Jana Armstrong, whose body was discovered in bushland earlier this year. He is also charged with an unrelated assault and contravening an unrelated domestic violence order.

Tense Legal Exchange in Toowoomba Court

During a court mention in the Darling Downs, Singh's lawyer, Ramli Salehkon, requested that the assault and domestic violence order contravention charges be heard separately from the murder charge. Salehkon argued that proceeding together could lead to prejudicial press coverage harmful to his client's defence, noting that Singh intends to contest all allegations. He further cited difficulties in obtaining instructions from Singh due to his detention at Woodford Correctional Centre, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Toowoomba, and made reference to human rights concerns.

Magistrate Kyna Morice turned down the request, highlighting that the matters had initially been joined following an application by the defence. Morice stated she would not adjourn charges based on vague submissions regarding similar witnesses. Addressing the defence's arguments, Morice admonished the attorney against grandstanding and raising irrelevant matters simply because of the case's high-profile nature.

Background and Next Court Appearance

Ms Armstrong was last seen alive at her Newtown home on the afternoon of July 7, shortly after sharing brunch with her sister, Faith Isaacs. Her abandoned vehicle was discovered at 6:00 a.m. the following morning in the middle of a street about 500 metres from her residence. On July 12 at 10:39 p.m., two pig hunters found her body in steep bushland off Esk Hampton Road at Redbank Creek, approximately 60 kilometres away. Ms Armstrong had a four-month-old son at the time of her death.

Police subsequently charged Singh with murder, arson regarding the vehicle, and the domestic violence count. Members of Ms Armstrong's family, including her sister Faith Isaacs and her brother-in-law Michael Isaacs, attended the court proceedings. Outside the court, Ms Isaacs spoke about the emotional impact of her sister's death on the family as Christmas approaches. The case has been adjourned until January 29 to allow for the remainder of the evidence brief to be served.