The case against one of the men accused of murdering Allecha Boyd could soon take a twist when he is expected to enter a plea to a lesser charge.
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Anthony Shane Hagan, 20, appeared before Wagga Local Court on Wednesday via video-link from the maximum security Cessnock Correctional Centre charged with murdering the 27-year-old woman.
However, his lawyer, public defender Michael King, said he understood that charge would soon be withdrawn and substituted for a lesser charge.
“I understand there is a fresh charge to be laid,” Mr King told the court.
“It will no longer be murder, it will be accessory after the fact to murder, and there will be a plea to that, but not yet.”
The charge of accessory after the fact to murder carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ jail in NSW.
Crown Prosecutor Andrew Hanshaw requested a few more weeks to reach an agreement on the facts of the case with Mr Hagan and his defense counsel.
"There will be a further charge laid,” Mr Hanshaw confirmed.
"We just need to adjourn it for a period of four weeks so we can finalise the facts."
Mr Hagan will return to court on September 19, when he is expected to enter his plea after the fresh charge is formally laid.
The Crown alleges the Wagga woman was murdered sometime between the hours of 2pm and 11:59pm on August 10 last year in Coolamon.
Police staged a two-day search of the Lester State Forest southwest of Coolamon in April in an attempt to find her body.
More than 60 officers were joined by cadaver dogs and volunteers to search a 600 metre-wide zone, but were unable to locate the woman’s remains.
Mr Hagan is still facing seven additional charges, including possessing an unauthorised firearm, supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, and dealing with proceeds of crime.
The least serious of his matters – driving under the influence of ice – was finalised on Wednesday when magistrate Christopher Halburd revoked his licence.
“With respect to the drive illicit drug… that's the least of your troubles a the moment, it seems,” Mr Halburd said.
“You are convicted with no further penalty, given your present situation, and you are disqualified for an automatic period of 12 months from today.”
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