A mistrial has been declared in the case of a woman accused of poisoning her partner with a cocktail of dangerous medication so she could benefit financially from his death.
Wendie-Sue Dent, 61, had been on trial in Adelaide's Supreme Court charged with murdering her de facto partner David Lawrence in December 2015.
The 62-year-old died in his bed at his Morphett Vale home in Adelaide's southern suburbs.
During the trial, the prosecution alleged Ms Dent — who is from Dapto in New South Wales — deliberately poisoned Mr Lawrence with her strong prescription painkillers because she stood to benefit financially from his death.
The defence claimed he took the medication to ease his back pain and accidentally overdosed.
The trial was expected to run for a month, but just a week into proceedings, Justice Tim Stanley declared a mistrial.
The 13-person jury was not told the reasons behind the decision.
After declaring the mistrial, Justice Stanley told Ms Dent she would need to obtain new legal representation.
"Now, Ms Dent, as you would have appreciated, I've now declared a mistrial," he said.
"It will be necessary to now take steps to arrange for the trial to be relisted.
"That will mean that you will have to take steps to obtain new legal representation.
"I suggest that you contact the Legal Services Commission in relation to that."
Ms Dent was remanded in custody to face a directions hearing in August, at which time a new trial date will likely be set.
