Gayle Woodford death: Man charged with murder appears in Port Augusta court

A HISTORIC visit by the State Government ministry to the APY Lands has been postponed following the murder of remote area nurse Gayle Woodford, who was living and working in the region.

**MUST CREDIT CHANNEL 7** An APY Lands man, Dudley Davey, accused murderer of Gayle Woodford. 36, **MUST CREDIT CHANNEL 7**

• CHANGES: 80,000 back push for Gayle’s Law
• SOLIDARITY: Nurses unite to honour Gayle Woodford
• CONCERN: Is this one of Australia’s most dangerous jobs?
• REMEMBERED: Gayle Woodford’s family speak out
• SHOCKING: Abducted nurse’s body found in shallow grave

A HISTORIC visit by the State Government ministry to the APY Lands has been postponed following the murder of remote area nurse Gayle Woodford, who was living and working in the region.

The Weatherill Cabinet was scheduled to hold its first meeting on the APY Lands since the early 1990s from Sunday, May 1, to Tuesday, May 3.

However, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Kyam Maher said the APY Executive Board had asked the Government to defer the meeting in the wake of Ms Woodford’s death.

The 56-year-old nurse and mother-of-two had been working in the tiny APY Lands community of Fregon.

Dudley Davey, of Mimili, has been charged with her murder and allegedly stealing the ambulance which Mrs Woodford drove.

Mr Maher released a statement saying the APY Executive Board “has asked that the (Cabinet) meeting be deferred while APY communities come to terms with Mrs Woodford’s death”.

“The APY Executive Board has informed the State Government that following the death of local nurse Gayle Woodford, it would be appropriate for the forthcoming Country Cabinet meeting in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands to be deferred,” he said.

“We respect the APY Executive Board’s request.

“Given the impact of Mrs Woodford’s death on many people, it is important to give APY communities time to grieve.

“We will work with the Board to find a suitable alternative time for Cabinet to meet in the APY Lands.”

Cabinet last sat on the Lands in May 1993.

The decision to postpone the upcoming meeting comes after a court heard that Davey is the target of payback threats by other inmates.

The 34-year-old appeared in Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with the murder of Mrs Woodford at Fregon in the APY Lands early last Thursday.

Wearing a black T-shirt, he stood silently in hand cuffs flanked by two sheriffs officers throughout the hearing.

His duty solicitor urged magistrate Clive Kitchin to impose a suppression order on Davey’s name and image.

Dudley Davey, 36, has been charged over the murder of nurse Gayle Woodford. Picture: Channel 7

He argued that publication of Davey’s name could lead to him being harmed inside the prison system by Aboriginal inmates who are angered at what he is alleged to have done.

However, prosecutors argued that Davey’s identity was already well known throughout the APY Lands and had been broadcast by some media outlets.

Mr Kitchin said he was not prepared to make such an order, noting that hardship to an accused person was not a basis for suppression.

“This accused is facing potential retribution from prisoners in custody and other members of the community,” Mr Kitchin said.

“The chances of him getting bail on this matter are remote, and the chances that his name will not be known by other inmates inside prison is also remote.”

Prosecutors told the court that the investigation into Mrs Woodford’s murder was well progressed, after forensic experts completed their assessment of the shallow grave where her body was found and surrounding areas.

The body of Outback nurse Gayle Woodford was found in a shallow grave two days after she went missing from her Fregon home about midnight on Thursday.

Davey, of Mimili, also faces a charge of theft for allegedly stealing the ambulance which Mrs Woodford drove.

He was arrested in Coober Pedy on Thursday morning after police used the ambulance’s GPS data to pinpoint its location.

Davey allegedly lured Mrs Woodford from the home she shared with her schoolteacher husband Keith.

It was only after Mrs Woodford failed to appear at work and the ambulance was noted missing that the alarm was raised about 10.30am Thursday.

Dudley Davey arrives at the at the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Picture: Simon Cross

The court did not hear any details on how Davey allegedly murdered Mrs Woodford or how he was able to lure her from her home.

Davey made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to face court in June.