THE jury in the murder trial of a Walcha woman accused of killing her defacto partner is expected to retire to consider their verdict on Wednesday.
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The jury of 11 men and women have been hearing evidence and closing statements in the case of Natasha Beth Darcy for 10 weeks now in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney.
The Crown alleges the 46-year-old sedated and gassed Mathew Dunbar on his Walcha sheep farm on August 2, 2027, in order to inherit the multi-million dollar Pandora farm. Darcy has pleaded not guilty to murder.
On Tuesday, Justice Julia Lonergan continued her third day of summation of the case and said the jury had heard "a lot of information", and there were "a lot of submissions to take in" that day, but she was obliged "as a judge of the court to do it".
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"It's important not to do it rushed," she told them, adjourning for the day slightly earlier than usual.
She said the final summing up will resume on Wednesday morning and "then you'll be listening to each other" when they retire to consider their verdict on the charge of murder.
As part of her summing up on Tuesday, Justice Lonergan detailed the Crown case against Darcy that she set the scene by staging information, and exaggerated Mr Dunbar's depression to doctors and friends.
The Crown maintains the accused staged evidence to make the death look like a suicide, and told lies to distance herself from some of the evidence, or several searches made on iPhones and other devices on poisoning, drugs, and autopsies.
The Crown also claims Darcy offered a friend money to get her to lie in court in her case and had made a joke about burying a body.
In summing up, Justice Lonergan said the Crown submitted that Darcy had effectively joked "about getting away with murder", and was asking someone to lie for her to get off the charge of murder.
Justice Lonergan said the Crown submitted evidence to show Mr Dunbar wanted love and a family but what he got was "a cold and calculating person who was determined to inherit his wealth".
In summing up the defence case, Justice Lonergan reminded the jury that "it is for the Crown to prove its case", and "Ms Darcy does not have to prove anything".
She detailed defence questioning on Mr Dunbar's spending, including about $80,000 a year on farm equipment between 2010 and 2015.
Justice Lonergan said the defence maintained Mr Dunbar was a very generous person who gave gifts unasked to people, but there was no evidence of spending on luxurious items like jewellery, bags, and overseas trips for Darcy.
She said the defence maintained there was no evidence of a sexual relationship but the accused and Mr Dunbar slept in the same bed, and the accused made the house homely, and took Mr Dunbar to various medical appointments.
She also carried out routine jobs and chores on the farm, like a normal family.
Justice Lonergan told the jury "you must not speculate" on evidence.
The trial continues.
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