A murder trial jury has been discharged, unable to reach a verdict in the case of man accused of bludgeoning a woman to death and dumping her in a creek near Newcastle.
Danielle Easey's body was found in Cockle Creek, Lake Macquarie, in August 2019.
The Supreme Court was told she was murdered in a Narara home on the New South Wales Central Coast, then wrapped in plastic and stored in a cupboard in the back of a van.
The home belonged to Carole Marie McHenry, 34, and the van was owned by Justin Kent Dilosa, 35.
Both pleaded not guilty to murder.
On Monday, an 11-person jury found McHenry guilty of murder and continued deliberating in the case of her co-accused, Mr Dilosa.
On Thursday, jurors said they could not reach a verdict in the case of Mr Dilosa.
Jury unable to break deadlock
On Monday, Judge Robertson Wright gave the jury the option of returning a majority verdict of 10, as opposed to a unanimous one.
But today via a note, the jury said it was split.
Justice Wright sought confirmation and questioned the foreperson.
That person confirmed the jury was deadlocked.
The judge then discharged the jury, with no objection from the Crown or defence.
He then thanked jurors for their service.
"I did not say your task would be an easy one," he said.
"I noted from the start the great care and concentration with which you approached your very serious and onerous task.
"I am also acutely aware you have sacrificed many weeks to do your duty.
"Please accept my sincere thanks."
'Unusual life but not a killer'
Mr Dilosa's case will return to court in February.
During the two-and-a-half month trial his barrister Angus Webb said "there was no clear logical reason" for Mr Dilosa to murder Ms Easey, because he had only met her two days before her death.
"He had nothing to do with her at all until a group of ice users gathered together at Mr Dilosa's residence for a nocturnal activity session where they were up all night," Mr Webb said.
He described Mr Dilosa's lifestyle as unusual but, in his opening address, said that did not make his client a killer.
"The ultimate case for Mr Dilosa is that he did not attack Ms Easey," he told the jury.
McHenry's legal team argued she was asleep, awoke to screams and saw Mr Dilosa attacking Ms Easey.
The jury rejected that.
She is expected to be sentenced in April.
