Dad-of-two who was jailed for murdering his pregnant lover has his conviction quashed and walks free after 12 YEARS behind bars
- Scott Austic, 45, sent to jail for 25 years in 2009 for the murder of Stacey Thorne
- He was released on bail Tuesday pending a retrial after his conviction quashed
- Questions surround key pieces of evidence in case including alleged weapon
- One of Austic's teenage daughters and mother supported him at bail hearing
A man who was sent to prison over the murder of his pregnant lover more than a decade ago has walked free from jail.
Scott Austic, 45, was released on bail on Tuesday - walking outside the gates of the West Australian prison that had held him for the last 12-and-a-half years.
The father-of-two was ordered to be given a retrial by the Court of Appeal in May and his conviction in 2009 for the murder of 34-year-old Stacey Thorne was quashed.
His barrister David Grace argued his client should be released while awaiting the retrial because of the 'very unusual factual circumstances' of the case - specifically questions around pivotal pieces of evidence.
Scott Austic, 45, was released on bail on Tuesday - walking outside the gates of the West Australian prison that had held him for the last 12-and-a-half years
He was ordered to be given a retrial by the Court of Appeal in May and his conviction in 2009 for the murder of 34-year-old Stacey Thorne (pictured) was quashed
One of Austic's daughters, who was six years old when her father was put behind bars, was outside of court on Tuesday.
'I don't even know how to explain how I feel to be honest. It's going to be very different. All I remember is visiting dad in prison,' she told The West Australian.
'It'll be good to spend time with him outside.'
She said the case had inspired her to study forensic biology, toxicology, and criminology at university.
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'I didn't think he was going to get it (bail) and then he got it. He was trying not to get his hopes up but he was so excited,' she said.
Austic's other daughter, 15, was in school as his bail was granted, according to the publication.
His mother was also at the hearing and was required to provide a $100,000 surety in addition to a personal undertaking of $100,000 by Austic.
Among the key pieces of evidence that led to Austic's conviction being quashed was a blood spattered cigarette packet on a table in his backyard that was not in initial photos.
A blood spattered cigarette case appeared in a picture of the accused's backyard after initial pictures did not show the item
There are questions surrounding the alleged murder weapon (pictured) found three days after the crime
Also the alleged murder weapon, a folding knife, was found by officers three days after the crime in an area that State Emergency Services volunteers had previously searched.
Questions also surround a Jim Beam can found on a road verge near Ms Thorne's house that had Austic's DNA on it.
In May, three judges unanimously agreed his conviction should be set aside. A new trial is set for October 2020.
Austic was required to surrender his passport, refrain from consuming alcohol, and must check in to a police station each day until his retrial.
A Jim Beam can with Austic's DNA found near the scene has also been questioned as evidence
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