Leisl Smith murder accused James Church granted bail

The man accused of murdering Central Coast woman Leisl Smith has had his bail granted by a judge despite him having previously attempted to influence a witness.

Liesl Smith, 23, vanished from Tuggerah train station in 2012.

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A man accused of murdering his lover after she told people she was pregnant with his child has been granted bail despite having tried to interfere with a prosecution witness.

James Scott Church, 48, was charged in 2018 with murdering Leisl Smith, 23, who disappeared in August 2012. Her body has never been found.

Ms Smith’s car was found abandoned at Tuggerah railway station more than a month after she vanished from her nearby Wallarah home.

She was last seen alive getting into a car with Church.

He told police she had called from the train station saying she needed a lift and he had dropped her off outside a bakery in Wyong.

Police divers conducted a search for evidence in relation to missing believed murdered woman Leisl Smith at a Kangy Angy property in 2013.

The prosecution is alleging Church “lured” Ms Smith to his car and killed her because of the damage she was doing to his reputation.

At the time of her disappearance, she had told others, including Church’s new girlfriend, that she was pregnant and he was the father.

In handing down her decision to grant bail in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Elizabeth Fullerton noted the prosecution’s submission Church had lied to police and never been “truthful” about his movements on the day Ms Smith disappeared.

Justice Fullerton also noted the Crown’s concerns Church would contact witnesses if granted bail.

A photo of missing person Leisl Smith.

The court heard Church had previously contacted his friend, Clayton Evans, encouraging him to give a “false alibi”.

“I am satisfied he actively sought to influence Mr Evan’s account,” the judge said.

However, Justice Fullerton said concerns over potential witness tampering could be met by “stringent” bail conditions.

She released Church on an $800,000 surety and ordered he report three times a week to police.

He also needs to adhere to a strict night-time curfew, surrender his passport and not communicate with any prosecution witnesses.