Tamika Chesser explained: why she’s trending

Published 2 November 2026 at 2:16 pm · 10 sources · 200+ searches today

Tamika Sueann Rose Chesser, 36, pleaded not guilty on 2 November 2026 to murdering her partner, Julian Story, and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. Australians are searching because the South Australian Supreme Court hearing renewed attention on the case, along with new psychiatric findings and her appearance by video link from custody.

Key facts

2 Nov 2026: Chesser pleaded not guilty in South Australian Supreme Court
Police allege Julian Story, 39, was killed in Adelaide in June 2025
A defence report reportedly found Chesser unfit and provisionally mentally incompetent
Next court date: 15 Feb 2027, with an updated psychiatric report due
Chesser has been held at James Nash House since her June 2025 arrest

What happened in court today

Tamika Chesser appeared by video link from custody at a South Australian Supreme Court arraignment on Monday, 2 November 2026. She pleaded not guilty to murdering Julian Story and to destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice.

She was seated in a wheelchair during the hearing. Justice Adam Kimber adjourned the matter until 15 February 2027, when the court is expected to receive an update.

Why the case is attracting attention

The case has resurfaced sharply because of the latest Supreme Court hearing, the reported psychiatric findings, and Chesser’s public profile as a former Australian reality TV contestant. She was the runner-up in the 2010 broadcast of Beauty and the Geek.

The alleged offences have drawn attention because prosecutors say the killing happened in Adelaide and was followed by the dismemberment and burning of the body. That combination of allegations has kept the matter in the news and made it a high-profile court case in Australia.

Background and timeline

Prosecutors allege that Story, 39, was murdered at the couple’s Adelaide apartment in June 2025. Police attended the apartment on 19 June 2025 after reports of a fire.

According to reports, a member of the public later found a skull with a dog on 31 July 2025. Chesser has been held under a mental-health detention order at Adelaide’s James Nash House since her arrest in June 2025.

What happens next

The prosecution and defence jointly sought another assessment of Chesser’s mental competence and fitness to stand trial. The additional report is expected within about three months.

A defence-obtained medical report reportedly found Chesser unfit and provisionally mentally incompetent in relation to the alleged offences. That is not yet a final court determination, so the issue remains before the court as of 2 November 2026.

Frequently asked

Why is Tamika Chesser trending in Australia today?

She trended because of her 2 November 2026 Supreme Court hearing in South Australia. She pleaded not guilty, and the hearing also renewed interest in the alleged psychiatric findings and the earlier murder allegations.

What has Tamika Chesser been charged with?

She has pleaded not guilty to murdering Julian Story and to destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. Those are the allegations before the South Australian Supreme Court as of 2 November 2026.

Who is Julian Story?

Julian Story was Chesser’s partner, aged 39, according to the court reporting in the evidence. Prosecutors allege he was murdered at the couple’s Adelaide apartment in June 2025.

When is Tamika Chesser’s next court date?

The matter was adjourned to 15 February 2027. The court is expected to receive an update then, after an additional psychiatric report is completed.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.