An online prostitute accused of decapitating her boyfriend, burning his corpse and hiding his head in bushland has pleaded not guilty to murder, but may attempt to be found mentally unfit to stand trial.
Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 34, who once appeared on reality TV show Beauty and the Geek, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday by video-link from a mental health facility where she gave birth earlier this year.
She pleaded not guilty murdering 39-year-old Julian Story in Port Lincoln in June last year, and will also fight a charged perverting the course of justice by allegedly destroying Mr Story’s remains.
Her lawyer conceded in court their client should face trial in the Supreme Court and had a case to answer, but said they would seek to have an investigation into Chesser’s mental fitness to be found guilty or stand trial for the alleged offences, The Advertiser reported.
The investigation, known as a Part 8A, can result in a guilty verdict as a result of mental incompetence, and could mean Chesser is spared jail and committed into lifetime care instead.
Chesser was remanded into mental health custody at James Nash House and will face court again in November for a trial date to be set.
The one-time reality TV star, who described herself as a “model and actress” but sold explicit content on adult subscription site OnlyFans, was pregnant before her arrest and gave birth inside the facility in March.
She is accused of killing Mr Story inside their unit, beheading and dismembering him, setting his body parts on fire and then disposing of the head, which was not found for weeks.
After Chesser’s arrest police launched an appeal for help to locate Mr Story’s head, and released CCTV images and video of her movements during a two-day period between the alleged murder and attempt to burn the body.
The CCTV footage showed Ms Chesser – who regularly posted Jewish, Hindu, aboriginal and Ancient Egyptian-themed images on social media along with sexualised photos of herself – wearing a black Muslim-style headscarf as she walked her dog while carrying a large bag.
Mr Story’s skull was eventually found in bushland by a dogwalker on July 31 and formally identified as belonging to him in early September, just weeks after his funeral where he was remembered as a having a “caring spirit” and being a talented musician.
Ms Chesser was born in Queensland and appeared on reality TV show Beauty and the Geek in 2010.
Header image: Left, Tamika Chesser (Facebook). Right, Julian Story (Supplied).
