Heavily pregnant woman accused of murdering greyhound trainer Karen Leek

A heavily pregnant woman is accused of killing Victorian greyhound trainer Karen Leek.

Jessie Moore, 25, is charged with murdering the trainer at Devon Meadows on May 25.

Ms Leek’s body was found the next morning.

The Berwick woman was days away from giving birth and didn’t want to come up from the cells, lawyer David De Witt told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.

“She requested to stay downstairs,” he said, adding it was because she was “quite heavily pregnant”.

Her due date was in eight days and it was also her first time in custody, he said.

There was no bail application made.

Homicide detective Brendan Devenish told the court Moore was interviewed about the allegations last week, but only charged on Thursday.

Prosecutors sought extra time to supply the defence with forensic evidence including pathology and biology reports because of COVID-19 delays.

But magistrate Marita Altman agreed the delay was “undesirable” and ordered the brief to be provided by July and the recording of the interview supplied to her defence.

Moore is next expected to face court in August.