Man changes plea, admits murdering young mother

A Tasmanian man has admitted murdering a young Queensland mother, changing his not guilty plea to guilty.

Gabrielle Marshall, 23, was found dead in the early hours of June 15, 2021 at a home in the town of Ulverstone on the island state’s northwest coast.

She had only been in Tasmania a few weeks.

Colin William Drake appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Thursday via a video link set up between Hobart and Burnie and pleaded guilty to one count of murder.

He had entered a not guilty plea to the charge in July 2021.

Drake was remanded in custody and is expected to appear before the court on October 23 for sentencing submissions.