The body of an alleged murder victim was undiscovered for **20 days**, according to court proceedings. Her cause of death remains “unascertained,” yet **Lionel Ernest Bernard**, 52, faces serious charges following the discovery of his partner’s decomposing body in a home located in **Felixstow** in November 2023. During a hearing at the **Adelaide Magistrates Court**, Bernard was granted home detention bail but will remain in custody due to the unsuitability of his proposed living arrangement.
Bernard has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his **44-year-old partner**. The court learned from his defence lawyer, **Jane Powell**, that a post-mortem report indicated the cause of death could not be determined. The victim suffered from multiple health issues, including **liver disease** and **heart disease**, which could potentially have contributed to her death.
Powell highlighted that the case will revolve around the question of causation, asserting that the prosecution may struggle to exclude alternative explanations for the victim’s demise. She noted that while the report documented multiple facial injuries occurring around the time of death, those injuries did not cause her death.
Prosecutor **Kirby Draper** presented evidence to the court, including **CCTV footage** showing Bernard at the victim’s home during the critical period. On the day the woman died, he allegedly attempted to call emergency services, known as “triple-0,” twice with a significant lapse of time in between the calls. Powell argued that due to Bernard’s limited English proficiency, he may have struggled to communicate effectively with the emergency call-taker.
The court heard that the victim was last seen alive on **October 25, 2023**. Bernard attempted to board a bus to **Port Augusta** the following day, successfully making the trip on **October 27**. After arriving in Port Augusta, the victim’s phone was discovered at his brother’s residence. Draper contended that statements from Bernard’s family members, which suggested they had spoken to the victim the day after his arrival, were inconsistent and misleading.
On **November 15, 2023**, police found the victim’s body. They reported finding “a very significant pool of blood on a chair” and additional blood throughout the house, indicating a violent incident. Evidence suggested attempts had been made to clean the scene, including the concealment of boots that contained both Bernard’s DNA and the victim’s blood.
Draper further emphasized the severity of the evidence, which included smeared blood and cleaning cloths stained with the victim’s blood, alongside fingerprints or palm impressions of Bernard found in that blood. Although the pathology report acknowledged the victim’s comorbidities, it did not indicate any evidence of her being at the “end of life stage.”
Bernard’s calls to emergency services were placed around the time he was attempting to leave **Adelaide**. Prosecutors opposed bail due to concerns regarding the gravity of the charges, the risk of re-offending, and the possibility that Bernard could abscond. The proposed addresses for home detention were deemed unsuitable as they were associated with potential witnesses and a victim of an unrelated domestic violence incident.
Magistrate **Justin Wickens** indicated that he would permit Bernard’s release on home detention bail if a suitable residence could be identified. The case has been adjourned for one month to allow time for this matter to be resolved.
