Crucial piece of missing evidence in schoolgirl Charlise Mutten’s death

The stepfather of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten, accused of murdering her and dumping her body in a barrel, will remain behind bars while the court awaits a crucial piece of evidence.

Lawyers for Justin Stein, 31, appeared in Penrith Local Court on Friday. He faces a raft of charges including murder and possession of child abuse material.

Mr Stein’s lawyer, Peter Katsoolis said he was yet to receive a “crucial” ballistics report from police, prompting the case to be further adjourned until October.

The nine-year-old’s body was found with gunshot wounds in bushland near the Colo River in NSW’s Central Tablelands in January this year.

Charlise had been visiting her mother and Mr Stein at a Blue Mountains property where it is believed she was killed.

Police mapped Mr Stein’s movements in the hours following her disappearance, from the property to the northwest and inner west suburbs of Sydney, where he tried multiple times to launch a boat alleged to have contained her body.

After being unable to start the boat, it is alleged Mr Stein travelled back to the Colo River, near where Charlise’s body was eventually found.

The disappearance of the Tweed Heads schoolgirl on January 14 sparked a lengthy multi-agency search of the surrounding bushlands, involving hundreds of volunteers.

Police allege Mr Stein murdered Charlise either on the evening of January 11 or in the early hours of January 12 when they were alone together at the property.

Stein was arrested in January and has remained behind bars ever since.

As a result of investigations into Charlise’s death, police uncovered an alleged break in a Mount Wilson property in August 2021, during which they say Mr Stein stole two firearms.

Charlise’s mother, Kallista Mutten was also alleged to have been involved in the break in and was charged in July with aggravated break and enter in company.

It is not believed either of the stolen firearms were used in Charlise’s murder and there is no suggestion Kallista Mutten was involved in her daughter’s death.

While in custody at Silverwater Jail, Stein was charged in May with two counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, and one count of possessing ammunition without authority.

He was also charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material, which police assert is not related to his stepdaughter.

Mr Stein’s case will be back before the court on October 7.