Mystery temple trips in spotlight at Raelene Polymiadis bail hearing

A bizarre series of claims have been aired in court as a woman accused of killing both her parents faced another bail hearing, before tensions flared outside.

Alleged insulin-poisoning murderer Raelene Polymiadis repeatedly breached her bail by arguing with and lying to authorities about her movements, displaying an “attitude of entitlement” and making three mystery stops at a Buddhist temple, a court has heard.

Ms Polymiadis left court shielding her face from cameras with a large umbrella and accompanied by her husband, Michael, who repeatedly physically lashed out at cameramen.
On Thursday, prosecutors asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to immediately cancel Ms Polymiadis’ release, saying she had demonstrated a willingness to “flout” the rules of home detention bail.

Lisa Lakatos, prosecuting, said Ms Polymiadis had deviated from her pass-outs by stopping at a Buddhist temple on Salisbury Highway on December 7, 13 and 19, as well as a cactus shop and at the Ingle Farm shopping centre.

On that last occasion, she said, Ms Polymiadis claimed she went to a chemist – but CCTV showed she had really met up with an unknown female.

Ms Lakatos said those five alleged breaches were representative of many more incidents, all of which demonstrated an ongoing “attitude” unsuitable for release.

“We don’t know why she deviated from her pass-outs, we don’t know why she went to the temple, we don’t know why she met with this particular individual and whether they are a potential witness,” she said.

Raelene Polymiadis outside court after an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier

“She has lied and she has demonstrated an attitude of entitlement by seeking pass-outs for activities not permitted by her bail, such as returning to her marital home to ‘tidy up’ and a former workplace to ‘return a uniform’.

“She has argued with authorities, insisting that she was allowed outside while in custody so should be allowed outside while on home detention bail.

“Police cannot monitor her 24-7, and hold ongoing concerns she might be interfering with witnesses.”

Mrs Polymiadis, 62, has yet to plead to two counts of murder over the alleged insulin poisonings of her non-diabetic parents, Brenda and Lynton Anderson, both 94, in 2022 and 2023.

Released on bail after collapsing in court cells and being frozen out of her parents’ estate, she was rearrested in January for breaching her home detention with shopping trips.

Ms Polymiadis was granted bail again and, despite indicating they would challenge that decision, prosecutors opted not to launch a Supreme Court review.

On Thursday, Ms Lakatos said Ms Polymiadis had claimed she stopped at the temple – at 386 Salisbury Highway – on one of the occasions in order to make a phone call.

However, she said, phone records showed she had Bluetooth capabilities in her car, and that her mobile had disconnected from it at that time.

She said Ms Polymiadis had claimed she bought Coke at the cactus shop – at 206 Salisbury Highway – and, though she had a receipt for $18, the business does not sell drinks.

On other occasions, she said, Ms Polymiadis had left her bail address without a pass-out, 20 minutes before her pass-out was valid, on the wrong day or gone to a place without permission.

After, she said, Ms Polymiadis had either not answered authorities’ phone calls – claiming “my podiatrist told me not to” – or argued with them about her rights.

“She has demonstrated a willingness to flout her bail conditions, and there is a strong indication this behaviour will continue,” she said.

Ms Lakatos said prior concerns about Ms Polymiadis’ health in custody were no longer valid, as the Department for Correctional Services had purchased both a C-Pap machine and a special diabetes monitoring device for her.

She said that, in custody, Ms Polymiadis would be “given autonomy” over her insulin dosage, blood sugar monitoring and meals to ensure her wellbeing.

Marie Shaw KC, for Ms Polymiadis, said the allegations were insufficiently serious to warrant cancelling her client’s bail.

The purported breaches, she said, were not “deviations” but the sorts of “short stops” a diabetic might make, while driving, for medical reasons.

She said a Google search showed the cactus shop “has a coffee machine” and there was no risk of Ms Polymiadis absconding or interfering with witnesses.

“It’s not a breach of bail to stop on the side of the road for three minutes, she said.

“My client has been well and truly punished already … if she’s remanded in custody, she will be in custody for two years (prior to trial).”

In his ruling, Magistrate Karim Soetratma said state law allowed for bail to be cancelled “for any sufficient reason”, but he was not satisfied Ms Lakatos had established such a reason.