Accused Beheader Appears in Court, Refuses to Cooperate
Man charged with murder of his mother in remote Australian home makes bizarre court appearance.
The 37-year-old man accused of beheading his mother at their New South Wales Northern Tablelands property last weekend made a peculiar court appearance on Monday.
Phillip John Denton, who lived with his mother Michele Denton, 70, was arrested at their farm after police discovered the grisly scene on Saturday night. Police were called to the property in Mole River, northeast of Tenterfield, around 9:35 p.m. and found the farmhouse partially ablaze. Inside the burning structure, they discovered the decapitated body of Ms. Denton.
The alleged murder has shaken the local community, described by a neighbor as a valley where residents "looked out for one another." Ms. Denton was a well-regarded alpaca breeder who had lived at Mole River for 15 years, enjoying a quiet life apart from her farm work.
Authorities were alerted to the situation after Denton allegedly entered a nearby property, attempted to steal a vehicle, and assaulted the 74-year-old male homeowner, who was a neighbor and friendly with both victim and accused.
Following the neighbor's account and the discovery of Ms. Denton's body, police arrested her son and took him to Tenterfield Police Station, where he was charged with murder and denied bail.
During his court appearance via video link from Armidale Police Station, Denton, who was wrapped in a grey blanket, refused to cooperate. He briefly sat in the video booth before standing, turning his back to the camera, and stating he would "no comply."
His Legal Aid solicitor informed the court that she intended to apply for a mental health provision for a clinical assessment. When the judge attempted to question Denton about any prior mental health diagnoses or medication, he responded, "no memory." Upon hearing he would be sent for assessment, Denton declared, "No comply. I need my lawyer."
Judge Miranda Moody later refused an application under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act, noting that the provision was "only available in certain jails like Long Bay." Denton was formally remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in Armidale Local Court on November 18.