A man has been found guilty of the 2021 murder of his partner in a remote cabin in New South Wales, Australia. Australian media reports state that Rohen James Hanson, aged 42, was convicted of murdering Dee Annear, aged 34, during a trial at the Supreme Court in Newcastle. The jury unanimously found Hanson guilty of the crime, which took place in the secluded Bulga Forest cabin, known by the couple as the “witch’s hut.”
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According to sources like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), The Canberra Times, and The Daily Telegraph, Hanson claimed he acted in self-defense when he killed Annear. The victim’s body was discovered outside a logger’s cabin in Bulga Forest on September 18, 2021. The couple had been camping at the cabin, which they had dubbed the “witch’s hut.” An autopsy report revealed that Annear succumbed to blunt force trauma around midnight on that fateful day.
Hanson tried to plead guilty to manslaughter, but prosecutors rejected his plea. Despite admitting to causing Annear’s death, he maintained that he was defending himself during the altercation. Hanson’s defense lawyer informed the jury that his client did not have any intentions of killing Annear and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Hanson initially misled the authorities by claiming that he found Annear deceased, and later altered his story to suggest she died in a car crash.
Further reports state that Hanson eventually confessed to acting in self-defense after Annear started a physical altercation by attacking him with a bottle. Allegations of ongoing physical abuse towards Annear by Hanson surfaced during the trial. Witness testimonies, including Annear’s mother Carolyn Butt, recounted instances of domestic violence and aggression displayed by Hanson towards Annear throughout their relationship.
The prosecution detailed disturbing accounts from witnesses, with one neighbour recalling a drunken argument escalating into Hanson allegedly pushing Annear, stomping on her head, and punching her face. Hanson’s sentencing is scheduled for September 5, as reported by various media outlets. In case of domestic violence, individuals can seek help by contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visiting thehotline.org, with services available 24/7 and in over 170 languages for support and guidance.