Murder charge dropped against SA woman

A decision to rule out some evidence has forced prosecutors to drop a murder charge against a woman accused of stabbing and killing her partner.

Veronica Joan Haines, 24, was charged with the murder of Ben Reid, 29, in a Port Augusta house in March last year and was due to stand trial in the South Australian Supreme Court on Monday.

But prosecutors discontinued the case, without specifying reasons.

Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber later issued a statement which said a judge's decision to rule some evidence inadmissible meant there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction.

"On the evidence remaining, I was not satisfied there existed a reasonable prospect of establishing that the alleged act of Ms Haines that caused the death was not defensive beyond a reasonable doubt," Mr Kimber said.

He said the decision not to proceed with the trial had been made in consultation with police and Mr Reid's family.