THE FIGHT for justice for murdered Leeton schoolteacher Stephanie Scott took a stunning twist on Thursday when the twin brother of the accused killer confessed to his role in the death.
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As Steph’s family and fiance watched on at Griffith Court, Marcus Stanford pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder after the fact.
It came as Vincent Stanford’s legal team flagged the possibility of a mental health defence in an upcoming Supreme Court murder trial.
Evidence tendered to the court included invoices for viagra, plastic handcuffs, a knife and a sword.
A request by Vincent’s solicitor David Davidge to have the case adjourned to allow his client to be assessed to whether he was fit to stand trial was rejected.
Prosecutor Virginia Morgan objected to the request.
“This could go on for months potentially,” she said.
The accused appeared via video-link from the Metropolitian Remand and Reception Centre.
He had his head bowed during the duration of the hearing.
Stanford was polite when responding to questions from Magistrate Kate Thompson, replying “yes ma’am”.
Marcus Stanford entered a guilty plea to the charge of accessory to murder after the fact.
Certain details of the murder of Ms Scott have been suppressed due to the distressing nature of the content.
Ms Morgan suggested the case could move to trial without Stanford entering a plea.
She tendered 16 volumes as the brief of evidence and an index of the brief, which was four documents.
Mr Davidge agreed the brief was an accurate representation of the facts.
Ms Scott’s fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley was in court surrounded by the murder victim’s family.
Merrilyn Scott, Ms Scott’s mother, wore a yellow flower pinned to her blue dress.
Yellow was Ms Scott’s favourite colour.
Family members and Mr Leeson-Woolley appeared unable to watch the man accused of murdering their loved one on screen.
Vincent was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court on May 6.
Marcus Stanford pleaded guilty to the charge of accessory to murder after the fact.
He appeared via video-link in Griffith Local Court.
He will be sentenced in Griffith District Court on May 4.
He had a beard and appeared more robust than his brother.
The latest chapter in the tragic disappearance and murder of Ms Scott comes just days before the anniversary of her disappearance.
She was allegedly murdered on Easter Sunday by Vincent, who was a cleaner at Leeton High School.
Her body was discovered at Cocoparra National Park on April 10, the day before she was set to marry Mr Leeson-Woolley.
