A woman accused of murdering her mother withdrew $15,000 from her bank account within days of her death, a Supreme Court jury in Launceston heard.
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Crown prosecutor John Ransom said Natalie Maher, 48, intentionally murdered 71-year-old Veronica Corstorphine by holding a pillow over her face for more than a minute.
Maher has pleaded not guilty to the murder at Mrs Corstorphine's home in Keane Street, South Launceston, about 5.30pm on October 3, 2019.
Her body was not found until October 29 and was significantly decomposed.
Mr Ransom said it was a circumstantial case with no direct evidence of murder.
He said circumstantial evidence would include telephone records, bank records, Ms Maher's possession of some of her mother's jewellery and a tablet, mobile telephone as well as forensic evidence.
The jury would also hear during the month-long trial that Ms Maher was to be a beneficiary of her mother's will.
Defence counsel Evan Hughes said a positive, active defence would be presented.
"Natalie Maher denies absolutely and completely being responsible for Mrs Corstorphine's death," he said.
He said that the defence would suggest possible alternatives including a medical event, that she may have taken her own life or that an intruder entered the house and took her life.
"There is much more to this case that you are yet to hear," Mr Hughes said.
Mr Ransom said Ms Corstorphine had lived in Tasmania for about three years before her death.
Ms Maher, from Western Australia, lived with her from August 2019.
After the alleged murder, Ms Maher used her mother's tablet to book flights to WA and departed at 7am on October 5.
"The State's contention is that she wanted to leave the murder scene as soon as she could to reduce the chance of detection," he said.
Mr Ransom said that the task for former State Forensic Pathologist Donald Ritchey was complicated by the degree of decomposition.
Body-worn camera footage taken by police of Mrs Corstorphine's position on her bed, flexing of arms, having a pillow over her face and the fact that no medication was found had aided Dr Ritchey.
"His opinion was that the circumstances would suggest that her death resulted from the actions of another," Mr Ransom said.
He said the lack of pill fragments in the deceased's stomach was a significant factor in relation to the suicide defence.
Mr Ransom said that Mrs Corstorphine's medical records would show she was not suicidal or being treated for depression or suffering from medical problems.
Forensic evidence would reveal Ms Maher's DNA was on the ends of the pillow.
However, Mr Hughes said the DNA was explained by Ms Maher living at the address.
Mr Ransom said Ms Maher had possession of a distinctive broach of her mother's when police searched her hotel in Bunbury.
Both Ms Maher's and her mother's mobile phone travelled to WA at the same time.
"The State's case is that the phone was taken by Natalie Maher to cover up her involvement in murder," he said.
A mutual friend of Ms Maher and her mother witnessed a number of arguments between the pair.
The trial before Justice Robert Pearce continues on Thursday.
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