Gunnedah teenager's murder case delayed in Tamworth court because of hold-ups in Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office

The teenage girl cannot be identified and did not appear in Tamworth Children's Court on Wednesday.

She has been in custody since her arrest on the day of the alleged murder in July last year.

It was revealed during a closed court session on Wednesday that the case was not yet ready to proceed, despite lawyers meeting to discuss the issues in a case conference in December last year.

The court heard the Crown prosecutor assigned to the case had been in separate, long-running trial and can only now give the matter his "full attention", almost a year after the teenager was charged with murder.

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DPP solicitor Rayshele Martin told the court the case was complicated and asked magistrate Julie Soars for a six week adjournment, which was granted.

"This is an extremely complex matter," she told the court.

Ms Martin told the court there had been a hold-up in the DPP office due to another murder trial and the Crown prosecutor was not yet across the Gunnedah case.

Much of the detail of the case, including the nature of the alleged victim's injuries, cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Ms Martin acknowledged it was the third time the case had been mentioned since the case conference six months ago.

Legal Aid defence solicitor Wendy McAuliffe did not oppose the adjournment, and the teenager has not yet been required to enter a plea to the murder allegation.

The court heard in April that the teenager was expected to face committal, where she would have to enter pleas, on the next occasion.

Ms Soars asked solicitors if it would be "likely" to happen when the case is in court again next month, more than a year after the teenager's arrest.

"I hope so, Your Honour," Ms McAuliffe replied.

The teenage girl is yet to appear in Tamworth Children's Court but Ms Soars ordered her to come into court via video link from custody on the next occasion.

Detectives allege the teenager murdered another girl at a property on the outskirts of Gunnedah on the morning of July 8, last year.

The accused was arrested by police later that morning at a nearby farm. She has been in juvenile detention since, and has not made a bail application.

The case was adjourned to July.

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