THE man acquitted of murdering Mildura toddler Nikki Francis-Coslovich in 2015 has been charged with making threats to kill and numerous assaults.
Police allege that in one of the assaults, in February this year, 37-year-old John Torney choked the victim to the point of unconsciousness “that may have placed a person … (in) danger of death”.
Torney appeared briefly in Mildura Magistrates’ Court this week, when a committal hearing date was set on 20 of the 25 charges laid against him.
All the alleged offences relate to four separate occasions this year.
It is alleged that at Robinvale on January 30, Torney made a threat to kill, made a threat to inflict serious injury and made a threat to destroy property. He was also charged with assault and unlawful assault.
Following an alleged incident on February 13, also at Robinvale, Torney was charged with engaging in conduct – namely choking the victim to lose consciousness – that may have placed a person in danger of death, intentionally causing injury and recklessly causing injury. He was also charged with assault and unlawful assault.
He was also charged with assault in relation to an alleged incident the following day.
Police also charged Torney with making a threat to kill, damaging property, assault with a weapon, assault, unlawful assault and unlawful assault in aggravating circumstances following an alleged incident on March 13.
Following a Supreme Court trial in 2016, Torney was found not guilty of both murder and the alternative charge of manslaughter following the discovery of two-year-old Nikki in the roof cavity of her Oram Court home in August the previous year.
Torney admitted to hiding her body in the roof, but said it was her mother, his ex-partner Peta-Ann Francis, who killed her.
A pathologist told the trial Nikki had been bashed to death and suffered horrific internal injuries.
Torney, who appeared in court by video link from custody this week, will face a one-day committal hearing on the bulk of the more recent charges on September 20. A further committal mention will be held on August 31 with regard to five further charges.
He did not make an application for bail.
