Aldinga Beach fire: Major twist in case of Anastasia Marshall over charge she murdered her ex-wife Krystal in horror house fire

There has been a major twist in the case of woman who was previously charged with murdering her ex-wife in a horror house fire in Adelaide last October. 

Krystal Marshall, 38, was found by emergency services in her Aldinga Beach home on the afternoon of October 20, 2023 after the fire was extinguished. 

In February, Krystal's ex-wife Anastasia Marshall, 29, was charged with murder, but on Tuesday it emerged that the murder charge had been dropped. 

She is still charged with destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice, arson of a building and three counts of assisting an offender, the Advertiser reported.

Adelaide Magistrates Court heard that Jonathan Paul Parker, 48, is charged with murder, destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice and arson of a building. 

Parker was charged last October, but his name was suppressed by court order until April. 

Anastasia Marshall was granted bail for home detention in May, but Parker remains in custody.

Prosecutors previously alleged Marshall and Parker conspired so that she could avoid any blame for the death.

The prosecution also alleged she gave 'multiple versions' of events leading up to Krystal's death to the police, and that she discussed finding the home addresses of witnesses.

Marshall's lawyer, Craig Caldicott, told Judge Mary-Louise Hribal that she would be entering a not guilty plea to the charges she faces.

Stephen Ey, who is representing Parker, said he needed more time before his client could enter a plea as the case involved 'substantial' material.

The case is set to return to court in August.

Krystal Marshall had been living with her ex-wife, their two children and a friend. 

Two dogs and a cat were rescued from the burning home by neighbours, who didn't realise Krystal was also inside. 

'The kids were at school. I went to pick up my youngest from school and I saw smoke coming out of the house when I was walking up the street,' Anastasia Marshall told reporters at the time.

'We weren't together for a couple of years but we never got divorced. We were together for 11 years.'