The family of Zoe Buttigieg burst into tears as Bowe Maddigan told a court he was not guilty of raping and murdering the 11-year-old girl.
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Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt committed the 30-year-old Mildura man to stand trial in the Supreme Court, as a three-day hearing in Wangaratta ended on Friday, the Border Mail reports.
Maddigan stood expressionless and stared straight ahead when he entered his not guilty plea to one count of murder and two counts of sexual assault — the first time he had spoken during the proceedings.
Just two members of Zoe's family were in the public gallery.
"There is clearly sufficient evidence for the matter to go before a jury, based on the matters heard in this court," Mr Klestadt said.
Zoe's body was discovered in her Inchbold Street home in Wangaratta on the morning of October 25.
Police discovered Maddigan 10 kilometres away that morning after he had started walking barefoot along the Hume Freeway towards Melbourne.
He had spent the previous night drinking alcohol and smoking bongs with Zoe's mother at her home, while Zoe was asleep in the lounge room.
Legal aid defence counsel Stephen Payne argued a defence of mental impairment during the Magistrates' Court proceedings.
Wangaratta medical practitioner Ian Price was the last witness of the hearing.
His statement described Maddigan as "uncommunicative, co-operative, seemed vague/detached" at his first assessment.
"Slept most of the time since admission, on time of arrival was positive for cannabis," the assessment stated.
"Downcast eyes, looks lost and perplexed, difficult to hear, at times has a very faint voice, hard to follow."
Dr Price said Maddigan had grazes on his knees he called "relatively fresh".
Eleven-year-old Zoe Buttigieg was found dead by her mother after a party in October. Photo: Courtesy of Ten News
"Ages of grazes is very difficult, but, by my memory, they could have been very recent – they could have been days," he told the court.
It was three days before the doctor ruled Maddigan was fit to be interviewed by police.
"I spoke to him and I believed he knew what was going on, he was orientated," Dr Price said.
The case was adjourned for a directions hearing in Melbourne Supreme Court on May 13, with a trial date to be set at a later time.
