Samantha Hooker granted bail on charge of murdering ex Peter Hooker

A western Sydney woman charged with murder after she allegedly ran down her ex-husband and he subsequently died of an infection has allegedly been assaulted in prison, a court has heard.

Father of two Peter Hooker, who died weeks after he was allegedly hit by his ex-wife’s car.

Readers are advised this article contains the name and images of a deceased Aboriginal person.

A woman accused of murdering her ex-husband by running him down with a car before he died of an infection has sobbed as a Supreme Court justice granted her bail.

Police will allege Samantha Hooker, 44, struck her ex – 36-year-old Peter Hooker – with her car following an argument, throwing him into a brick wall in Schofields on August 8.

At the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, Justice Richard Weinstein read a brief summary of what the Crown alleges occurred that day.

“The applicant exited her vehicle and had a verbal argument with the deceased, which became physical,” Justice Weinstein said.

“The applicant grabbed and held the deceased’s chin – (a witness) separated the two and the deceased began walking north away from the applicant.”

Justice Weinstein said the Crown would allege Hooker then followed her ex in her car.

“She allegedly attempted to run the deceased down, and he avoided the car by jumping over a steel road barrier, then ran south to get away,” Justice Weinstein said.

“She reversed the car and again drove towards the deceased, mounted the kerb, colliding with the deceased and throwing him into the brick wall of a house.”

The court heard the entire incident had been captured on CCTV.

Peter Hooker in hospital following the incident.

Mr Hooker was hospitalised for his injuries and discharged on August 17, before his roommate found him unresponsive at home on August 31.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his cause of death was later determined to be an abscess and significant infection in his abdomen, in an area where his liver had been surgically operated on.

Justice Weinstein said the Crown would allege this was “as a direct result of the injuries caused by Samantha Hooker’s actions on August 8”.

Hooker was further charged with murder, in addition to two previous charges of wounding or grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, and causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent.

Hooker applied for bail in the NSW Supreme Court, with her solicitor Ben Willcox offering the court conditions akin to house arrest for her liberty.

Tracey Dargan holds a photo of her son Peter Hooker.

.Pictures: Jeremy Piper

The court heard Hooker had allegedly been assaulted since she had been in custody on remand by a woman known to Mr Hooker.

Solicitor for the Crown Jason Rafeeq opposed bail, citing risks of Hooker not appearing at court or interfering with prosecution witnesses.

Justice Weinstein ultimately determined the risks could be mitigated with strict conditions and granted bail, with Hooker bursting into tears on the audiovisual link as the determination was made.

Members of Mr Hooker’s family who were present in court also reacted with shock as the decision was made.

Hooker will not be permitted to leave her Quakers Hill address unless accompanied by her adult daughter or sister, and only to report for bail, attend court or legal appointments, and obtain medical treatment.

Her daughter’s partner’s father has offered to forfeit $5000 should Hooker not abide by her bail conditions.

She is also required to obtain a mental health care plan through a doctor, follow all treatment recommendations, surrender her passport, stay away from all international points of departure, and refrain from communicating in any way with a child witness for the prosecution.

Hooker will next face Penrith Local Court on February 2.