Latest news with #RohenJamesHanson
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
Rohen James Hanson found guilty of murdering Dee Annear in Bulga Forest
A jury has unanimously found a man guilty of murdering his partner in a remote hut on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. Rohen James Hanson, 42, was tried in the Supreme Court in Newcastle for the murder of Dee Annear, 34. Ms Annear's body was found outside a logger's cabin in Bulga Forest on September 18, 2021. The pair, who lived together in Wingham, west of Taree, had been on camping at what they called the "witch's hut". Throughout the trial the court heard that the relationship between the pair was marred by domestic violence and alcohol abuse. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 An autopsy report found Ms Annear died from blunt force trauma at about 12am on September 18, 2021. She sustained skull, rib, jaw and nose fractures, lung lacerations and a strangulation injury. The trial heard Hanson told triple-0 operators, first responders and investigating officers that Ms Annear had succumbed to injuries sustained in a car crash the night before. But Hanson later recanted that claim in a second police interview after he was arrested on September 21. In a recording played for the jury Hanson was heard telling police Ms Annear had instigated a fight with him back at the cabin after he crashed their car alone. He said he tackled her into a wall after she attacked him with a beer bottle. It was the second time Hanson was tried for Ms Annear's murder. In April 2024 jurors failed to reach a verdict. At the commencement of proceedings Hanson attempted to plead not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, which the prosecution rejected. The jury began deliberating at 10:40am on Tuesday morning and concluded at 2pm on Wednesday. Justice Ian Harrison thanked the jurors for their work and close attention. Hanson will return to the Supreme Court in Newcastle for sentencing on September 5.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Rohen Hanson told 'lie after lie' after death of Dee Annear, Bulga Forest murder trial hears
A court has heard that evidence given by a man accused of murdering his partner in a remote cabin in New South Wales was false should be disregarded. Closing arguments have been heard in the trial of Rohen James Hanson, 42, who allegedly killed Dee Annear, 34, in 2021. Ms Annear's body was found outside a logger's cabin in Bulga Forest on the NSW Mid North Coast on September 18 that year. An autopsy found she had died from blunt force trauma at about 12am that night. Mr Hanson told police Ms Annear had succumbed to injuries she had sustained in a car crash the night before on Pole Dark Road, 3.5 kilometres away from cabin. But the prosecution and defence agreed the story was a lie that Mr Hanson had repeated to triple-zero operators, first responders and investigating officers in a police interview on September 19, 2021. In his closing argument before the Supreme Court in Newcastle on Monday Crown prosecutor Carl Young told the jurors they could not rely on anything Mr Hanson said regarding the death of Ms Annear. "Mr Hanson had no difficulty telling police lie after lie," Mr Young said. Defence barrister Peter Krisenthal said Mr Hanson had been trapped in a lie after making up "a nonsense explanation in an attempt to shield himself from the consequences" of Ms Annear's death. Mr Krisenthal argued that Mr Hanson had made full and frank admissions in his second police interview on September 21. In that interview Mr Hanson told police that the pair had a fight at the cabin and that he had tackled her into a wall in self-defence after she hit him in the head with a beer bottle. But Mr Young said the second interview was full of inconsistencies and and that the jury should reject this evidence outright. "[Mr Hanson] has consistently told lies about what happened," Mr Young said. Throughout the trial the court heard of the violence and alcohol abuse that marred the relationship between Mr Hanson, from Wingham on the NSW Mid North Coast, and Ms Annear. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 Mr Young said evidence from multiple neighbours and relatives, including Ms Annear's mother, showed that Mr Hanson had "a tendency to physically assault Ms Annear during an argument". Mr Krisenthal agreed that the relationship had "a very sad propensity" for arguments and violence, but that it was instigated from both sides. The prosecution told the jury that at the time of her death Ms Annear had fractures to her skull, jaw, nose and ribs, lacerations to her lungs, a strangulation injury and more than 100 bruises, lacerations and scratches. "This was no normal scrap fight," Mr Young said. The prosecutor argued that given the number and severity of the injuries, Mr Hanson intended to kill or cause very serious bodily harm to Ms Annear "regardless of whether Mr Hanson later regretted this intention". Mr Kristenthal argued that physical fights were commonplace in the relationship and that Mr Hanson always believed Ms Annear would "pull through". "As unpalatable as that situation is, this was a fight or an assault that was part of a relationship," Mr Krisenthal said. He told the jury Mr Hanson accepted criminal responsibility regarding Ms Annear's death, as seen by his attempt to plead guilty to manslaughter at the start of the proceedings. "You might feel anger at Mr Hanson because of some of his actions, because of some of his choices," Mr Krisenthal said. "But you need to identify those feelings and put them aside." Justice Ian Harrison will continue giving instructions to the jurors on Tuesday before they begin their deliberations.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- ABC News
Rohen James Hanson trial begins over the alleged 2021 murder of his partner
A man accused of murdering his partner in a remote cabin has admitted to initially lying to police about her death, a court has heard. Rohen James Hanson, 42, was charged with murder after Dee Annear's death more than three years ago during a camping trip. Ms Annear, 34, was found dead outside a cabin in Bulga Forest on the New South Wales Mid North Coast on September 18, 2021. The trial began on Monday in the Supreme Court, sitting in Newcastle in front of Justice Ian Harrison, and is expected to run for two weeks. When asked how he pleaded to the charge of murder, Mr Hanson said, "Not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter." Crown prosecutor Carl Young rejected this plea, as murder is the only charge available for the jury to decide upon. Mr Young told the jury the pair had a volatile and violent relationship, "one of regular drunken arguments and fights". The relationship was characterised by "the tendency of the accused to physically assault Ms Annear during an argument," he said. At the time of Ms Annear's death, they were visiting from their home in Wingham on a multi-day camping trip to a remote logger's cabin they called "the witch's hut". Mr Young told the court, "What happens between 6pm Friday and the accused calling triple-zero at 10:45am [the next day] is the key issue." On the recording of the triple-zero calls played for the jury, a distressed Mr Hanson is heard telling the operator, "There's no reviving her … she's passed away while I went to go get help." Mr Young said Mr Hanson lied repeatedly in two triple-zero calls, as well as to first responders and in a police interview, about Ms Annear sustaining injuries in a car crash on Pole Dark Road 3.5 kilometres away from where the two were staying. After being arrested and charged with murder on September 21, 2021, Mr Hanson admitted he lied and that the two had actually gotten into an argument in the hut on the night of September 17, 2021. The prosecution said Mr Hanson then told police multiple different accounts of a fight that involved Ms Annear hitting him in the head with a beer bottle and him tackling her into a wall and knocking her out. Mr Young said Mr Hanson told police, "I didn't mean it, I tackled her and she hit her head." The prosecution told the court that autopsy evidence showed Ms Annear had fractures to her skull, jaw, nose and ribs along an injury consistent with a strangulation attempt. Defence barrister Peter Krisenthal acknowledged that Mr Hanson lied initially, but told jurors that within two days of his initial remarks, he recanted and told the police the truth. Mr Krisenthal said Mr Hanson's attempt to plead guilty to manslaughter was important "because that's Mr Hanson's acceptance that he caused the death". Mr Krisenthal said Mr Hanson did not intend to kill or seriously harm Ms Annear and that he was acting in self-defence after Ms Annear initially attacked him with a beer bottle after the pair had been drinking. Evidence from family members and friends is expected to be heard in the coming days.
