By Mikayla van Loon
A Croydon North man and former Deakin Unviversity communications lecturer, who was charged with the murder of his wife earlier this year, has told the court he will plead guilty to one count of murder.
Adam Brown, 40, connected via video link from prison to his Melbourne Magistrates’ Court committal mention on Tuesday 13 September following the death of wife Chen Cheng on 30 April.
While Brown’s attorney wished for the committal to be made, the prosecution argued a compulsory examination with the defendant’s clinician needed to be completed prior to him being committed.
The defence said whether the contents of the examination was conducted before or after the committal mention, it did not change the plea of Brown.
The presiding judge delayed the committal for later on Tuesday afternoon to allow time for a witness examination to be heard.
Magistrate Rohan Lawrence reportedly read Brown his rights and asked how he would plead, to which Brown returned a guilty plea.
He has been referred for a directions hearing at the Melbourne Supreme Court on 30 September.
Brown sat with his eyes closed for most of the morning’s hearing, often looking as though he was muttering words to himself.
Mr Brown was charged with murder on Monday 2 May after emergency services were called to an address in Patrick Avenue about 10.15pm on 30 April, where paramedics attempted to revive 35-year-old Cheng.
