Charlise Mutten: Missing nine-year-old girl suffered ‘fatal gunshot wound’ before being ‘dumped in barrel’

Police have revealed nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, whose body was found in a barrel last week, suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Investigators believe the child was killed and then dumped in a barrel in bushland in the Blue Mountains, days before she was reported missing.

Detective Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said a post mortem revealed the girl - who was reported missing from Mount Wilson on January 14 - had been shot.

“Charlise ... suffered a fatal gunshot wound and that’s how she died,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“It’s important that the public know that this is a unimaginable and egregious murder of a child. Investigations are still ongoing.

“The crime scene at Mount Wilson is ongoing.”

The child’s disappearance triggered an intensive five-day search of bushland until her body was discovered a week ago, in a barrel dumped near the Colo River northwest of Sydney.

Justin Laurens Stein, 31, faced court last week charged with murder after being arrested at a Surry Hills unit.

The Sydney man allegedly suffers from long-term mental health problems, a court has been told.

Mr Stein, appeared via video link in Sydney’s Central Local Court on Wednesday where his lawyer asked for an order to keep his client safe from other prisoners.

“Mr Stein (has) concerns for his personal safety while in custody,” Paul Rowe said.

Mr Rowe said Stein had “been under long-term care for mental health problems” and had been prescribed a fairly high dose of antipsychotic drugs quetiapine and risperidone for many years.

Magistrate Robert Williams said he could order Justice Health to assess the inmate’s mental health needs and abide by any medication requirements.

But the magistrate said his prison status was up to Corrective Services NSW.

“I can’t make an order for that,” Mr Williams said.

The court was told the case, due back in court on March 18 in Penrith, involved some “complexities”.

Police have interviewed Charlise’s mother Kallista who provided a statement that she was not present at the property at the time of the murder and corroborated other key evidence.

Police have released CCTV of a red Holden Colorado that was seen driving around the Wisemans Ferry area and Colo River area and are appealing to anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in those locations.