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Sydney woman Nicole Barnes, who allegedly lied about taking a COVID-19 test, wants to be let out on bail

A woman who allegedly lied about testing negative to coronavirus after flying into Adelaide from Sydney is in “poor mental health”, a court has heard, and has applied to be let out on bail.

Nicole Barnes allegedly lied about taking a COVID test. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt
Nicole Barnes allegedly lied about taking a COVID test. Picture: AAP/Dave Hunt

A woman accused of lying about a coronavirus test has applied for bail.

Nicole Barnes, 43, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court via videolink on Friday.

She allegedly claimed to have returned a negative COVID-19 test after arriving in Adelaide from Sydney on July 28, but police could not find any record of the test.

Barnes has been in custody for a week.

Her lawyer asked Magistrate John Fahey to allow Barnes to be released on bail to stay with her partner who lived in Mount Barker.

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She said Barnes had “very poor mental health”, was “struggling to cope” and had no criminal history.

Police told the court they believed the woman was still a flight risk.

“She has a NSW address and I don’t have any other address … provided so we’d want some kind of insurance such as home detention bail,” the police prosecutor said.

A report will be provided next week.

caleb.bond@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/adelaide-hills/sydney-woman-nicole-barnes-who-allegedly-lied-about-taking-a-covid19-test-wants-to-be-let-out-on-bail/news-story/b9e06982fc2bd1c8a925bf9679729a82