She Never Came Back From 'Witch's Hut' — Now Her Partner Stands Trial
What started as a camping trip to a remote cabin known as the "witch's hut," according to ABC Mid North Coast, ended in tragedy — and a tangled web of lies. Now, more than three years later, a jury in Newcastle, Australia, is hearing the chilling details.
A Getaway in the Woods
Dee Annear, 34, and her partner, Rohen James Hanson, 42, left their home in Wingham for a multi-day trip to the Bulga State Forest in New South Wales in September 2021. Their destination was a small, white logger's cabin they nicknamed the "witch's hut," according to ABC Mid North Coast.
But on the morning of Sept. 18, Hanson made a frantic call to emergency services. "There's no reviving her ... she's passed away while I went to go get help," he told the operator, according to ABC Mid North Coast.
A Tale That Kept Changing
Initially, Hanson told authorities that Annear had died in a car crash on a nearby road. Later, he admitted that was a lie. He eventually claimed they'd argued, and he tackled her after she struck him with a beer bottle, causing her to fall and hit her head.
Hanson pleaded not guilty to murder but offered to plead guilty to manslaughter, saying he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors rejected that plea.
A Volatile Relationship
Crown prosecutor Carl Young told jurors the couple's relationship was marked by regular drunken arguments and physical assaults. According to Young, Hanson was prone to attacking Annear during fights.
The key question, Young said, is what happened between the evening of Sept. 17 and the morning of Sept. 18, when Hanson made the emergency call.
Injuries That Tell a Different Story
Forensic evidence paints a grim picture. An autopsy showed Annear suffered a skull fracture, jaw and nose fractures, a rib fracture, and injuries consistent with strangulation, according to prosecutors. Earlier testimony also noted bruises and abrasions on her arms, legs, and torso, as well as chest bleeding and a brain hemorrhage.
In court, according to ABC Mid North Coast, jurors heard Hanson tell police, "I didn't mean it, I tackled her and she hit her head." His lawyer argued he was defending himself after Annear attacked him first with a bottle.
What Happens Next
The trial, which began June 30 in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, is expected to last two weeks. Justice Ian Harrison is presiding over the proceedings in Newcastle.
In his defense, Hanson's attorney noted that his client admitted causing Annear's death but insists he never intended to kill or seriously harm her.
Evidence from family members, friends, and experts is expected in the coming days, and the jury will have to decide whether this was murder or a deadly accident born from a violent fight.
For now, the haunting question lingers: what really happened in the witch's hut?
References: She Never Came Back from 'Witch's Hut' During Camping Trip — Now Her Partner's Call to Police Could Be Key at Trial | Rohen James Hanson trial begins over the alleged 2021 murder of his partner
