Tranquilliser-like substance found in alleged murder victim Lynton Anderson, court hears

An Adelaide court has heard a woman accused of killing her father with her own insulin was last seen at his house just hours before he was found.

A woman who allegedly murdered her father with her own insulin supply was last seen at his house just hours before he was found unresponsive and with a tranquilliser-like substance in his system, a court has heard.

On Monday, Justice Julie McIntyre of the South Australian Supreme Court heard final submissions in Raelene Polymiadis’ bid for bail.

Raelene Polymiadis. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Polymiadis, 62, of Craigmore, has yet to plead to allegations she murdered her parents, Brenda and Lynton Anderson, in 2022 and 2023, using her own insulin.

However, prosecutor Karen Ingleton told the court that insulin wasn’t the only substance found in Mr Anderson’s system when he died.

“Ms Polymiadis’ father was living independently, but receiving some assistance at home,” Ms Ingleton said.

“At night, he would be assisted by his carer or alternatively by Ms Polymiadis or her sister.

“Her father was found on the floor of his own premises unresponsive by one of his carers in the afternoon.

“Autopsy results suggest that not only had … insulin been supplied, but that he had also received another form of tranquilliser.”

That kind of medication had previously been prescribed for his wife and was later found in the home address, she said.

The court heard that still shots from a nearby CCTV camera showed Ms Polymiadis leaving her father’s house at about 1-1.15pm on the day he was found dead.

“He was found unconscious by his carer at about 3pm that day,” Ms Ingleton said.

“The last person that had any contact with Ms Polymiadis’ father, prior to him being found unconscious on the floor, was Ms Polymiadis.”

Brenda Anderson. Picture: Supplied

Lynton Anderson. Picture: Supplied

Amid numerous suppression orders, Ms Polymiadis has sought bail claiming her health is at risk in custody, and that she has experienced two medical episodes since her arrest.

Doctors later concluded the second of those, which saw her conveyed to hospital in chains, was the result of stress, not her diabetes or blood pressure.

Her lawyer Marie Shaw KC previously told the court her client would be in the hands of people who weren’t equipped to manage her illness if she was not granted bail.

“She will potentially – for the next two years, day in and day out, without the scrutiny of a Supreme Court justice – be at the mercy of prison health services whose management has been described as inept,” Ms Shaw said.

“When she returned from hospital, she requested to split her insulin and was refused. When she requested to speak to a doctor about it, she was told there was no doctor available that day.”

Justice McIntyre will hand down her decision on bail tomorrow.