A man accused of negligent manslaughter has stormed out after a magistrate rejected his bid to have the charge thrown out.

John Torney, 41, watched via video link from prison as Melbourne magistrate Stephen Ballek ordered him to stand trial over Emma Bates' death.

But he left the video link room and refused to return for the formal committal process, where he was expected to be cautioned and enter a not guilty plea.

The 41-year-old repeatedly shook his head during today's hearing, where Ballek found there was sufficient evidence for a jury to convict Torney of negligent manslaughter.

Torney has been charged over the death of Bates, whose body was found at her Cobram home near the NSW-Victoria border on April 23, 2024.

She was allegedly struck to the head by Torney in the days before b

See Full Page