Man found guilty of stabbing his secret pregnant lover, 34, to death because he didn't want the baby has his conviction quashed after 13 YEARS in jail - after doubts were raised over Jim Beam can used to convict him
- Scott Austic was jailed for life over the murder of his girlfriend Stacey Thorne
- Ms Thorne was stabbed 21 times and left to die at her Boddington home in 2007
- Prosecutors alleged he killed her because he did not want her to keep the baby
- WA Court of Appeal quashed his conviction on Thursday but will not reveal why
- He will face a retrial amid allegations police planted crucial pieces of evidence
A man 13 years into a life sentence for the murder of his pregnant secret lover has had his conviction quashed and will face a retrial.
Scott Austic had been in a relationship with 34-year-old Stacey Thorne for a year before she was stabbed 21 times at her Boddington home, southeast of Perth, in 2007. She was 22 weeks pregnant with his baby.
He was convicted of murder in 2009 and sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Scott Austic (pictured) will face a retrial over the murder of pregnant girlfriend after his conviction was quashed on Thursday
Stacey Thorne (pictured) was found stabbed to death in her Boddington home, south east of Perth, in 2007
It was alleged at his trial that he stabbed her because he did not want the child.
Prosecutors said Mr Austic attempted to persuade Ms Thorne to have an abortion, sending text messages pleading with her not to have the baby.
On the night of her death, he was said to have been so drunk he was refused service at the local hotel, and after having sex with Ms Thorne, returned on foot to her home some time later and killed her with a 10cm folding knife.
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He then allegedly walked home, leaving Ms Thorne to die.
Mr Austic's previous appeal launched in 2010 failed, but WA Attorney-General John Quigley agreed to a fresh hearing last year amid concerns police may have planted evidence.
A blood-spattered cigarette packet on a table in Mr Austic's backyard was not there when initially photographed, but appeared in a photo taken about 30 hours later.
A blood-spattered cigarette packet on a table in Mr Austic's backyard was not in the original photos taken of the area hours earlier
A UK forensic pathologist said the alleged murder weapon, a 10cm long knife (pictured), was too short to have inflicted the wounds found on Ms Thorne
There were also questions about a knife, which police said they eventually discovered in a paddock, despite the area being searched three days earlier by SES volunteers.
But UK forensic pathologist Richard Shepherd testified at the second appeal some of Ms Thorne's wounds measured between 13cm and 15cm, which meant they were 'very unlikely' to be caused by the weapon.
'I don't think that knife caused those wounds,' he said.
His lawyers have suggested a Jim Beam can found on a road verge near Ms Thorne's home with Mr Austic's DNA on it may have been placed there, ABC News reports.
Mr Austic has always maintained his innocence.
The WA Court of Appeal quashed Mr Austic's conviction on Thursday, but the reasons for the judgment have been suppressed.
A retrial has been ordered, and the state and defence have been granted leave to adduce further evidence.
He will face court for a status conference on June 4.
Mr Austic's legal team have raised concerns over a Jim Beam can that was found in a road verge near Ms Thorne's home that had his DNA on it
