Latia Henderson, Kayley Ketley: Fresh details revealed in alleged car boot kidnapping

A woman police allege stabbed her friend and stuffed her into a car boot has told a court she had no idea the alleged victim was there and was “told to drop the car off at a hire place”.

A woman accused of stabbing a woman before stuffing her into the boot of the alleged victim’s own car claims she never knew anyone was injured in the boot in the first place, a court has heard.

Latia Henderson, 18 and Kayley Ketley, 24, both appeared at Campbelltown Local Court on Monday accused with carrying out the stabbing and kidnapping of Nisha Phillips at Claymore in Sydney’s southwest on February 3.

The police fact sheet tendered to court detail the allegations leading up to the moment Ms Phillips was found after punching out a tail light in her white Holden Commodore and waving her hand for help.

Police allege Ms Phillips picked up both women about 7.30pm on February 2 before driving to a Claymore address and entering the home together.

Kayley Ketley, accused of allegedly stabbing a woman and stuffing her in a boot, was refused bail at Campbelltown Court on Wednesday.

While at the home, Ms Ketley and Ms Phillips allegedly became involved in a verbal argument before Ms Phillips was “stabbed in the left leg near her knee with a large red kitchen knife with a swirly striped handle”.

Ms Ketley allegedly stabbed her a second time in the right thigh, according to the police fact sheet.

The three women then drove to a home at Glenfield where they arrived at 1.25am on February 3 where Ms Phillips sat on the lounge as the alleged assailants left the home for four hours.

The court heard CCTV footage was captured of Ms Ketley and Ms Henderson driving through McDonalds at Fairfield, which correlated to the GPS tracking of the car.

Ms Phillips remained at the home and attempted to treat herself with first aid.

When the two women returned, Ms Ketley allegedly said “Oh you’re still alive, what a shame, I guess we are going to have to drag this on hey, I was just hoping you would like give it up”, court documents state.

Nisha Phillips was allegedly stabbed multiple times and stuffed into her car boot. Photo: Facebook

According to the police fact sheet, Ms Phillips allegedly had a knife held up to her back at 6.10am, forcing her in to the boot of the car.

She was then driven to Campbelltown Mall, where Ms Ketley was allegedly captured on CCTV opening the back door and getting into the back seat before allegedly stabbing Ms Phillips five times in the arm.

According to court documents, Ms Henderson and Ms Ketley then allegedly drove to Moreton Park Rd where they smoked cannabis on the side of the road and gave Ms Phillips water and ice cream.

According to police facts, Ms Henderson allegedly used a black and white tea towel to wipe blood from the back of the car near the number plate area and threw it onto the ground.

Ms Ketley then allegedly entered directions into the car GPS for Belanglo State Forest and sent messages from Ms Henderson’s phone saying they were going there.

Latia Henderson was allegedly driving the car when they were pulled over by police. Photo: Facebook

About 11.30am, according to court documents, motorists driving south along the Hume Highway noticed the car was being driven erratically and called police when they noticed Ms Phillips’s arm hanging out where the taillight should be, according to the police fact sheet.

Police stopped the car about 200m north of Medway Road where they found a 30cm black handled kitchen knife, a knife in the footwell with DNA fingerprints of Ms Ketley on the blade and handle and cannabis in the glasses compartment, according to police facts.

Ms Ketley denied stabbing Ms Phillips and said she had no idea she was in the car but was told by another woman to pick up the Commodore at an Ambarvale carpark and drive it back to a hire location in Colo Vale.

However Ms Henderson made partial admissions to the offences saying she knew Ms Phillips was in the car during her police interview, documents state.

The pair have been in remand since they were both charged with unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, detaining to gain advantage causing bodily harm and driving vehicle without owner consent.

A family member of Latia Henderson outside Picton Court in February, who claims the 18-year-old is innocent. Picture Perry Duffin

Ms Ketley was also charged with possession of cannabis and driving while disqualified, but both women are yet to enter pleas.

Ms Henderson was refused bail on February 24 despite telling the court she was 14 weeks pregnant.

Now 20 weeks pregnant, four members of Ms Henderson’s family including her mother appeared at court on Wednesday to support her but refused to comment on the teenager’s condition.

When approached by media, Ms Henderson’s mother said she “didn’t need to make any comment because they’re not guilty”.

Ms Ketley was represented on Wednesday by Mark Rumore and applied for bail for the first time since representing herself the morning after her arrest.

Mr Rumore said his client had been in custody multiple times since she was 19, and claimed she would be able to seek treatment while on bail.

“She has community and residential ties and her mother is in court today, who would provide her with a home to reside at,” Mr Rumoure told the court.

But Crown Prosecutor Len Kerr opposed bail, saying Ms Ketley is facing up to 25 years if found guilty.

Magistrate David Degnan agreed the case was strong for the prosecution and refused Ms Ketley’s bail.

“The facts do not sit with the defendant’s claim during her interview that she had been told by someone to pick up the car and drive it back to a hire location at Colo Vale,” Magistreate Degnan told the court.

“It is no where near Colo Vale.”

The magistrate described the allegations as “very serious” and told the court Ms Ketley has a history of violence and prior non-compliance.