Sister accused of attempted honour killing wants to talk to co-accused husband in jail

It’s alleged this woman held her sister down while her family members stabbed her. Now she wants the court to lift its “distressing” ban on contacting her co-accused husband.

A woman who allegedly held her sister as she was stabbed during an “attempted honour killing” wants to contact her husband who is also charged over the public attack, a court has heard.

The woman, who cannot be identified, is charged with the attempted murder of her sister alongside her husband, parents and a brother in the car park of Sefton Plaza shopping centre in November.

On Tuesday, the woman’s lawyer Aaron Almeida told the Adelaide Magistrates Court said his client sought “telephone contact only” with her husband.

“Communication is only sought by way of telephone contact and your Honour is well aware that calls to the prison are monitored … and can be monitored for any mischievous purpose that may be alleged,” he said.

He said his client’s home detention bail agreement banned her from contacting any of her co-accused, including her husband.

Mr Almeida said she had not spoken to her husband since their arrests last year, which she had found “distressing”.

The sister of the victim leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court. She is charged over the attempted murder of her sister in an alleged honour killing at Sefton Plaza. Picture: The Advertiser

The court has previously heard the Muslim family disagreed with the victim’s boyfriend, a Christian man, and planned their alleged “attempted honour killing”.

Tali Costi, prosecuting, said the woman’s strict bail conditions had been “carefully considered” when the Supreme Court granted home detention in January.

“The prosecution evidence is that in the lead up to the attempted murder charge there was concerted efforts by different family members to locate (the victim),” she said.

Ms Costi said the victim had agreed to meet her mother who then alerted her other daughter.

“This applicant has communicated then with other accused leading to all five accused of the attempted murder being at the car park at the relevant meeting time, confronting the victim,” she said.

Police at Sefton Plaza after the alleged attempted murder in November 2021. Picture: 7NEWS

“The allegation is that the victim was stabbed by her father with the other family members present.

“The allegation is that (a brother) and this applicant were holding the victim at the time she was stabbed and then forced her into the car.

“She was driven home to the family home. Medical assistance was not provided or called for.”

Ms Costi said the woman was also charged with the false imprisonment of her sister by the “forcing, taking her and keeping her in the car and returning her to the house”.

Also in the magistrates court yesterday, a brother of the woman, who is not charged with attempted murder but charged with an earlier break-in and assault on a man believed to be the victim’s boyfriend, asked the court to have “freedom of movement” while on home detention bail.

That man’s lawyer, Craig Caldicott, said his client wanted to return to work and asked the court to order a report into his compliance with bail and the suitability of his employer.

Magistrate Roderick Jensen ordered that report, but refused to allow his sister to call her husband in prison citing the seriousness of the offending.

Each of the accused returns to court next month when they are expected to enter pleas.