Nundle manslaughter case Neil Douglas Morris: Sentence could be reduced to just two years with more witnesses to be called

In Tamworth District Court on Friday, Neil Douglas Morris' sentence hearing was put off while the Crown scrambles to pin him with more witnesses for cross-examination and another expert opinion.

The morbidly obese victim sat in a chair in her home in Nundle covered in her own faecal matter and bodily fluids for days before Mr Morris called for medical help, but Judge Jeffery McLennan may only find him culpable for manslaughter in a 53-minute window.

"If I come to a conclusion that Mr Morris' culpability revolves around essentially a one-hour period between 1:30 and 2:30pm, then it is at the lowest level of criminality for negligence causing death," Judge McLennan said.

"If that is the position I come to then it seems to me that it is only in the realm of a sentence of two years imprisonment or less."

The victim died as the result of a rotted wound on her back that was covered in "small, midge-like insects", police evidence showed.

The Crown prosecutor wants to have Morris examined by a forensic psychologist to determine the extent of his mental state at the time of the victim's death.

That psychologist will also be presented with a video walk through of the home the couple lived in before the victim was rushed to hospital where she later died.

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That was fine, Judge McLennan said, as long as the defence was provided with the same material.

"Both experts need to be on a level playing field," he said.

In Morris' sentence, an Intensive Corrections Order that would see him out in the community is not an option, the court heard.

He is looking at a term or imprisonment, or if the case went to trial and the Judge dismisses the facts Morris can be placed on a bond.

The sentence hearing was adjourned to October with Judge McLennan ordering Morris' bail to continue.

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