The committal hearing for a woman charged with the murder of Samantha Kelly in Kangaroo Flat began in Bendigo this week.

The auntie of Ms Kelly, Tracey Lubcke speaking to the media outside court on Wednesday said she had traveled from Ballarat for the hearing and would follow the case all the way as a tribute to Ms Kelly.

“I’m going to be here every day … because Samantha was like my daughter,” she said.

“Somebody’s got to represent Sammy.”

Ms Kelly was found dead in bushland in Shelbourne, near Lockwood, on February 12 – several weeks after she was reported missing.

It is alleged Arthur murdered Ms Kelly with a shovel in the Kangaroo Flat home they all shared, before Christine and Ronald Lyons helped to orchestrate a cover-up and hide the body.

Christine Ann Lyons, 45, appeared by video link in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where she was remanded in custody until the committal hearing on January 9.

The hearing is set down to last for seven days and will include 28 witnesses. 

She has also been charged with being an accessory to the murder, by assisting in “manufacturing a false and misleading story to authorities and others that Samantha Kelly had voluntarily disappeared”.

Lyons is alleged to have used the bank card of Ms Kelly to withdraw cash after the alleged murder.

Peter James Arthur, 44, also appeared by video link in court on Tuesday, and will re-appear at another committal mention on November 9. He was charged with the murder of Ms Kelly.

Ronald Lyons, 44, appeared in person in the Bendigo court charged with being an accessory to murder, and remains on bail to an address in Swan Hill.

He is accused of assisting Arthur in removing the body of Ms Kelly from the scene and into a waiting vehicle. 

Ronald Lyons also allegedly helped to dispose of a couch from the crime scene, and used Ms Kelly’s bank card to withdraw cash.

He cannot enter Bendigo except for court appearances and doctor appointments as a condition of his bail, the court heard. He will next appear in court on November 9.

Ronald Lyons left the court on bail on Wednesday and briefly spoke with the media outside.

Tracey Lubcke, auntie of Samantha Kelly, says she will be at every murder hearing until the end

Several family members of Samantha Kelly sat in court during the brief hearings, and addressed the media afterwards.