Daniel James Holdom (pictured) will face trial over the deaths of a mother and her daughter
A man charged with murdering a woman and her young daughter has been ordered to stand trial, almost nine years after they both are believed to have died.
Daniel James Holdom allegedly killed Karlie Pearce-Stevenson, 20, and Khandalyce Pearce, two, on unknown dates and at an unknown location in mid-December 2008.
Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s body was found in the NSW Belanglo State Forest, while her daughter’s remains were discovered near a suitcase dumped on a South Australian highway.
In committing Holdom to stand trial in the NSW Supreme Court, magistrate Les Mabbutt said the most important piece of evidence were photos taken by Holdom of the mother in the forest shortly before or after her death.
The prosecution says Holdom took the photos as a ‘trophy’.
Karlie Pearce-Stevenson (pictured), 20, was allegedly murdered by Holdom in December 2008 before her body was dumped in the Belanglo State Forrest, south of Sydney, NSW
He is also charged with murdering Khandalyce Pearce (pictured), two, whose body was found dumped on the side of highway in South Australia near where an empty suitcase lay
The 42-year-old, who is charged with murdering the pair, dressed in prison greens and didn’t react in the dock when the case was adjourned for arraignment in the Supreme Court on October 6.
Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s remains were found in the forest in 2010 but were not identified for five years until after the discovery of Khandalyce’s remains.
The two-year-old’s remains were found in July 2015 near a suitcase dumped on the side of a SA highway at Wynarka.
Holdom, who told police he had been in a relationship with Ms Pearce-Stevenson, was seen to argue with her on December 14, 2008, at an ACT residence before they drove off in her car.
People at the house said Holdom returned alone after being gone for about 14 to 17 hours, the magistrate said.
His mobile phone use was later tracked to the forest area where, the prosecution alleges, he killed her and took graphic photos either shortly before and/or after her death.
Prosecutor Victoria Engel says evidence shows Holdom checked into a Wagga Wagga hotel with a child on December 19.
But the next day he was seen alone, before he drove on to South Australia.
A towel used by the hotel was found with other items near the toddler’s remains.
In committing Holdom to stand trial, magistrate Les Mabbutt said the most important piece of evidence were photos taken by Holdom of the mother in the forest shortly before or after her death (Pictured is the suitcase found near Khandalyce Pearce)
‘The location where the suitcase was found several years later was entirely consistent with the route of travel he took,’ the magistrate said.
Holdom allegedly later made admissions about the murders, saying he had suffocated the toddler and stomped on her mother’s throat.
Ms Engel said Holdom used Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s credit card for years after her death.
He also was allegedly involved in sending messages from her phone to her mother to curb police investigations into the pair’s disappearances.
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