Justin Stein, a 35-year-old convicted murderer from New South Wales, has pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse material. Stein is currently serving a life sentence for the 2022 killing of his fiancée’s nine-year-old daughter, Charlise Mutten.

Stein had been due to face trial in Penrith District Court on charges related to possession of child abuse material and firearms offences after initially pleading not guilty. However, earlier this month he admitted guilt to two counts of possessing child abuse material. Authorities have stated the material was not connected to Charlise.

In addition to these charges, Stein will be sentenced later this year for several other offences. These include one count of aggravated break and enter, one count of possessing ammunition without a licence, two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, and two counts of possessing unauthorised firearms.

The murder of Charlise Mutten occurred at Stein’s family property in Mount Wilson, in the Blue Mountains region, on or around January 11, 2022. Stein shot Charlise first in the hip as she attempted to escape, then delivered a fatal shot to her face at close range. He subsequently placed her body in a barrel and disposed of it near the Colo River.

At the time of the killing, Charlise’s mother, Kallista Mutten, was staying in Stein’s caravan at Lower Portland, while Stein and Charlise were at his parents’ property. Following the murder, Stein collected Ms. Mutten and traveled to Sydney, where they reportedly used drugs and engaged in sexual activity in Centennial Park. They later returned to Mount Wilson that evening.

Further details revealed that Stein sent messages to both Ms. Mutten and his mother, posing as someone searching for Charlise. In reality, he was driving around Sydney, seeking locations to discard the young girl’s body, which was in his utility vehicle.

Stein was tried in the NSW Supreme Court in 2024, where a jury found him guilty of Charlise’s murder. He has consistently denied responsibility for the killing. The court process surrounding the additional charges and sentencing is ongoing.