Kincumber shooting: Jamie Cherie Howarth granted bail, ex-boyfriend still wanted, court hears
Police are still hunting two people over the Kincumber shooting, including the alleged main offender, after his ex-girlfriend was granted bail for allegedly being an accessory, a court has heard.
Central Coast
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New details have emerged in court about an early morning public shooting outside Kincumber McDonalds including that police are still hunting two alleged offenders.
It comes as a 28-year-old woman was ordered to stay away from the Central Coast and not contact her ex-boyfriend after being granted bail for her alleged role in the public shooting on June 26.
Jamie Cherie Howarth appeared via video link at Gosford Local Court on Friday where her Legal Aid solicitor successfully applied for bail.
She told the court Ms Howarth’s circumstances had changed significantly from when she was first refused bail by the court on August 17.
Her solicitor said Ms Howarth had faced Wyong Local Court on Wednesday where she was convicted, fined and placed on a community corrections order for an unrelated incident at The Entrance.
The court heard Ms Howarth pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon in the form of capsicum spray on a key ring and having a stolen mobile phone on her when she was stopped by police at The Entrance prior to the June 26 shooting at Kincumber.
Her solicitor said Ms Howarth had been caring for her seriously-ill mother at Kincumber but could reside at her father’s Jindabyne address and agree to a condition she not enter the Central Coast.
Her solicitor told the court Ms Howarth was present on the morning of the shooting but the main offender, who was armed with a gun, “got in her car and she drove off”.
The court heard that given the man was armed, Ms Howarth may have been under “quasi-duress” and had little ability to refuse his request.
However the prosecutor opposed bail, telling the court Ms Howarth had her phone to her ear during a struggle with an unnamed victim before another vehicle turned up and shots were fired.
He said police would allege in court she called the second vehicle and “there are still two offenders outstanding”.
He said one of the offenders, who was the alleged shooter, was Ms Howarth’s ex-partner and police feared if she was granted bail she may contact him.
The court heard terrified staff from McDonalds called police about 4.40am after three shots were fired.
However Magistrate Jennifer Price said she was satisfied Ms Howarth’s proposed address was far enough from the Central Coast so as to not influence any potential witnesses.
Magistrate Price said further concerns could also be mitigated by a non-association order with her ex-partner and anyone else involved in the alleged shooting.
She granted Ms Howarth bail on strict conditions that she not enter the Central Coast, report to Jindabyne Police Station four times a week, not contact her ex-boyfriend or any police witnesses and post $1000 surety.
She was adjourned to face court again on October 14.
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