June 27th, 2025: Emma Roberts

The committal hearing for a man accused of causing the death of Cobram woman Emma Bates has been postponed until October following a house fire involving two of the prosecution’s main witnesses.

John Torney, 40, was scheduled to appear via video link in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this week, where the first stage of court proceedings was set to begin. Instead, the matter has been adjourned for four months due to what prosecutors described as “dramatic and unforeseen” circumstances.

Torney is facing a charge of negligent manslaughter in relation to the death of 39-year-old Emma Bates, who was found dead in her Cobram home on April 23, 2024. Police allege Bates suffered a number of injuries prior to her death, including visible bruising, a head wound, and other signs consistent with assault.

Torney had reportedly moved into Bates’ home in the weeks leading up to her death. He was initially charged with a series of assault-related offences and breaching a court order, before the manslaughter charge was added in December 2024.

The latest adjournment stems from an incident that occurred on Sunday, June 23, when Torney’s younger brother allegedly set fire to the family’s brown brick home in Cobram during a police welfare check. The fire escalated quickly, resulting in the complete loss of the home and significant disruption to the legal process.

Both Torney’s brother and mother, Belinda Torney, were at the property and taken to hospital. The brother, 27, has since been charged over the incident. Belinda Torney was reportedly uninjured but is not currently in a fit state to provide evidence.