Teenager Pleads Not Guilty to Murdering Father in 2022 Boxing Day Case

A 19-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter over the death of her father on Boxing Day in 2022, as the case moves towards a judge-only trial in South Australia’s Supreme Court.

Case Returns to Court Nearly Four Years Later

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the South Australian Supreme Court on October 6, 2026.

The court heard that she has admitted responsibility for her father’s death but disputes the allegation that the killing amounted to murder.

She entered a plea of not guilty to murder while also pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Prosecution Does Not Accept Manslaughter Plea

Prosecutor Karen Ingleton told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had not accepted the plea to manslaughter.

As a result, the murder allegation will still be tested at trial. The case is expected to proceed before a judge alone, with the trial likely to begin later this week.

The prosecution will need to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, while the defence will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations and present its own case.

What the Court Heard About Boxing Day

According to the prosecution’s summary, the teenager had been drinking at a gathering on December 26, 2022, and was allegedly significantly intoxicated.

The court heard that her father took her home from the gathering, accompanied by another person who later became a witness in the case.

Prosecutors allege that after sleeping for a period, the teenager woke up angry and swearing. The precise reason for her anger was not clear from the information presented to the court.

Police Were Called to the Home

The prosecution alleges that an altercation then occurred inside the home involving a kitchen knife.

The court heard that the first knife was taken away from the teenager and that emergency services were contacted. Prosecutors allege that another knife was subsequently taken from the kitchen and that the father was fatally injured.

Police arrived at the property a short time later and arrested the teenager, who was 16 at the time of the incident.

Judge-Only Trial Expected This Week

The upcoming trial will determine whether the circumstances meet the legal threshold for murder or whether the killing should be treated as manslaughter.

The teenager’s plea means she accepts responsibility for manslaughter but continues to deny the more serious murder charge.

The case is now set to return to court for a judge-only trial, where evidence from prosecutors and the defence will be examined before a decision is reached.

Source: ABC News, October 6, 2026.