A Melbourne magistrate has indicated that he will commit a man accused of negligent manslaughter to stand trial, before the accused stormed off and prevented proceedings from formally concluding.

John Torney, 41, is charged with the manslaughter death of 49-year-old Cobram woman Emma Bates.

He appeared via video link today in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to hear whether his lawyers' submission that the case be thrown out would be successful.

Ms Bates body was found with serious head and upper body injuries after emergency services were called to a home on Campbell Road in Cobram, northern Victoria, in April 2024.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek said there was evidence of sufficient weight to support a conviction and that a jury would be able to find that Mr Torney owed Ms Bates a duty of

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