A Canberra man has sobbed in the ACT Magistrates Court as he was charged with murdering his former partner over the Easter long weekend.
Michael O'Connell, 42, is accused of killing Danielle Jordan — who also went by the name of Danielle Fleming — after the pair argued in the early hours of Good Friday.
Mr O'Connell was initially charged with manslaughter after Ms Jordan's life support was turned off, but today the charge was formally upgraded to murder.
Documents tendered to the court showed Ms Jordan suffered catastrophic head injuries after she allegedly fell from the bonnet of a car being driven by Mr O'Connell in the north Canberra suburb of Melba.
The documents also revealed witnesses reported having seen the car drive off and hearing a thump.
Witnesses allegedly also saw Mr O'Connell pick Ms Jordan up off the road and put her in the car.
Police said CCTV footage showed he took her to Calvary Hospital, carrying her limp body into the building.
Ms Jordan was later transferred to the intensive care unit at Canberra Hospital.
Police allege Mr O'Connell had urged witnesses to say Ms Jordan had fallen down the back stairs.
The court heard the incident had occurred just a day after a court had ordered Mr O'Connell to stay away from Ms Jordan.
Today, Mr O'Connell could be heard in a distressed state as he appeared by telephone link to Canberra's jail and protested his innocence.
"Not guilty," he said.
The case will return to court in July.
