Man charged with murder of Sydney nurse

New information has led police to lay a murder charge against a man who last week
said on national television he was innocent in the slaying of Sydney nurse Michelle
Beets.
Walter Ciaran Marsh, 49, on Thursday appeared in Hornsby Local Court charged with
her murder.
Police have described the fatal stabbing of 57-year-old Ms Beets as vicious and,
since her April 27 death, say they have worked "with dedication" to find her killer.
Marsh, an American, appeared on national television last week proclaiming his
innocence after he had been questioned twice by police.
When detectives on Wednesday night led Marsh from his Mowbray Road unit at Artarmon,
where he lives with his wife, it was the third time he was to be questioned over Ms
Beets' death.
However, homicide squad acting commander Superintendent Mick Sheehy said fresh
information this time led to forensic sampling and the laying of a formal murder
charge on Thursday afternoon.
"There was some information obtained last night which was significant to this
investigation, but I'm not in a position to say anything about that," Supt Sheehy
told reporters on Thursday.
At Hornsby Local Court, during a brief mention, a handcuffed Marsh looked
disorientated.
There was no application for bail and magistrate Susan McIntyre ordered that Marsh
remain in custody until Tuesday, his 50th birthday, when he will face Sydney's
Central Local Court by audio visual link.
Before Thursday's court appearance, Marsh's solicitor Ben Archbold suggested
Wednesday's apprehension of his client may have been because of his nationality.
Born in Pennsylvania, Marsh earlier told media his history included working for the
military and he blamed being "a foreigner" for the police interest in him.
"Because he's an American national, it probably didn't help his case ... an
Australian citizen would probably be given a summons in the circumstances. (But) not
being a citizen (police) felt it necessary to hold him in custody," Mr Archbold said
of Wednesday's apprehension.
Mr Archbold said Marsh was "holding up".
"At this stage, he's doing as best he can under the circumstances," Mr Archbold said.
Police and lawyers on Thursday offered no motive for Ms Beets' killing, with Supt
Sheehy saying only that all detail would come out in court in due time.
"Certainly, it is the case that we are very happy to have this matter before the
courts," Supt Sheehy said.
"For us it is the first stage in an ongoing process for this matter."
When interviewed by media last week, Marsh denied killing Ms Beets.
Almost a thousand mourners attended a funeral for Ms Beets on May 7, including
scores of colleagues from Royal North Shore Hospital where she worked as a nurse
manager in the emergency department.
Her de facto husband David Grant remembered Ms Beets as "a wonderful partner and
friend".