A fresh witness has come forward alleging that they saw an argument between Ross Merrick and Marika Ninness before Ms Ninness was rendered unconscious in an East Maitland carpark, Newcastle Local Court has heard.
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Mr Merrick, 31, is accused of punching Ms Ninness in the head near the Stockland Green Hills shopping centre in December 2013 before she fell and hit her head on the pavement.
Mr Merrick, who attended court yesterday, and Ms Ninness had been in a relationship for several months.
Ms Ninness was in a coma for a fortnight before she died.
Mr Merrick, who is on bail and living at Port Macquarie, was later charged with murder after initially being charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Julie Gomez, told magistrate Ian Cheetham that a new witness had come forward and that a statement was being taken from him.
She said the witness allegedly saw an argument between Mr Merrick and Ms Ninness on the night in question and that a friend of the witness will also make a statement to police this Friday.
Defence solicitor Iain Bruce said he would need time to consider the new material once it is served.
The case was adjourned to March.
