The decision followed a special witness hearing in Albury Local Court on Wednesday in the matter of Greg Trimmings.

Ingrid Driver, 46, might have died from serious, complex health issues caused by her alcoholism, the hearing was told, rather than domestic violence.

The Indigenous woman's death led to an emotional outcry from her family in South Australia.

They made her photograph public so as to tell her story.

RELATED:

Under examination by Trimmings' barrister, Eric Wilson SC, forensic pathologist Dr Jane Vuletic testified there was a credible link between the victim's liver cirrhosis and the subdural hematoma that ultimately killed the mother-of-three.

Trimmings, now 44, initially faced a single charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but detectives attached to Strike Force Merriwee upgraded that to murder on Ms Driver's death.

This was replaced by a manslaughter charge on June 26.

Police had alleged she died of head injuries inflicted by Trimmings in their Olive Street unit on April 30, 2018.

Dr Vuletic told the hearing, via a video link to Newcastle, that she found a triangular, four centimetre by two centimetre bruise under the skin on the top of Ms Driver's head.

IN OTHER NEWS:

When asked whether a glass bottle might have caused that injury, she replied: "Yes, that's right."

Her evidence variously described Ms Driver as suffering from cirrhosis, that her brain had signs of atrophy that meant there was more room for it to move when her head shook, causing bleeding, and that she also had pancreatitis and Hepatitis C.

Mr Wilson recounted evidence from a witness who was told by Trimmings of her reaction to the news of the death of an elder.

"Ingrid was really upset," Trimmings said.

"She was banging her head on the wall and hit herself over the head with a water bottle."

Trimmings will apply for bail at Wagga Local Court on August 6, with the case adjourned to October 15.

Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here