A man accused of causing his partner's death when she suffered a catastrophic head injury falling from his ute has told a court "she was the love of me life" as he pleaded not guilty to a fresh charge of murder.
Michael O'Connell, 42, was charged in April with manslaughter, culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm and three counts of perverting the course of justice.
The Monash man appeared via phone in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday when he was charged with murder before Shane Drumgold SC, Director of Public Prosecutions, withdrew the original five charges.
