Jury discharged in Qld murder, rape trial

A Queensland jury has been discharged in the trial of a man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl and killing her mother at a Brisbane home in 2014.

Jacob Michael Smith, 40, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court last Monday to one count each of murder, rape, attempted rape, assault occasioning bodily harm, and two charges of stealing.

But the jury was discharged on Tuesday afternoon after an application was made for an adjournment of the trial due to additional forensic evidence coming to light.

Justice Peter Flanagan told jurors it was necessary to discharge them due to the extent of the adjournment.

A new trial is expected to take place in 2018.

Smith was remanded in custody.