‘Nothing similar’ about couple’s alleged poison murders, Raelene Polymiadis’ lawyer claims
An alleged parent killer’s lawyer has made a bold claim about her case in court – but also says more time is needed to deal with the “enormous” evidence.
Police & Courts
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There is “nothing similar” about the alleged insulin poisonings of a husband and wife, by their daughter, a year apart, and lawyers need more time to get “fully across” the “enormous” case, a court has heard.
On Tuesday, counsel for Raelene Polymiadis said they would “fail in their duty as officers of the court” if they allowed her to enter pleas to two counts of murder as scheduled.
Rachael Shaw, for Ms Polymiadis, said she did not make such a claim “lightly”.
“In my respectful submission, this is a large brief (of evidence) ... we have two deaths and there’s nothing similar about them,” she said.
“They are not in the same year, they are not suggested to be in the same circumstances... there is an enormous amount of work and I would not be doing my duty to my client if I was not fully across that material.”
But Lisa Lakatos, prosecuting, said Ms Polymiadis’ team had been provided with the bulk of the evidence in June last year.
“The brief was filed last year and comprises the majority of the evidence that is alleged against the accused... it’s been in their possession for well over six months,” she said.
“From our point of view, we’re keen to see this matter committed and listed for trial as soon as possible – unless Ms Polymiadis is going to be considering pleading guilty.”
Ms Polymiadis, 63, of Craigmore, 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, she was frozen out of her parents’ estate – including a $1m property and almost $200,000 cash.
Ms Polymiadis was rearrested in January and accused of breaching her home detention conditions with shopping trips.
Prosecutors alleged she argued with and lied to authorities about her movements, displayed an “attitude of entitlement” and made three mystery stops at a Buddhist temple.
On Tuesday, and in a departure from previous court appearances, Ms Polymiadis arrived at court unaccompanied by family or counsel.
Her husband, Michael, arrived on his own 20 minutes later from a separate direction.
In court, Ms Shaw said her chambers did “not have the resources” of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“I’m keen to do my duty in this matter... in the circumstances, I’m asking for four weeks to give my client advice before she is committed to the Supreme Court,” she said.
Ms Lakatos said she would not oppose a two-week delay, given two expert reports had been “recently provided” to defence.
One of those, she said, was the post-mortem report regarding Mr Anderson’s death.
Magistrate Lynette Duncan said a four-week adjournment was appropriate “in the circumstances” and remanded Ms Polymiadis on continuing bail until June.
Neither Ms Polymiadis nor Ms Shaw, who left court together, made comment after the hearing.
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