Taj Hart: Woman and man, 18, refused bail on murder charge after Nowra teen allegedly killed in hit-and-run

A woman, and her 18-year-old relative, charged with the alleged hit and run murder of a south coast teenager, were refused bail when they appeared in a Sydney court.

A woman and an 18-year-old man did not apply for bail when they appeared in a Sydney court for allegedly murdering Nowra teenager Taj Hart.

The woman, 37, and the young man, who live near Jervis Bay, were arrested on Sydney’s northern beaches on Thursday morning.

Police said on Friday the arrested pair were “known to each other”.

In Manly Court on Friday morning, Magistrate Robyn Denes issued an interim non-publication order that prohibits the media identifying both of the accused.

A woman, and an 18-year-old man, have been arrested over the alleged hit and run murder of Taj Hart, 18, on the NSW south coast in February this year. Picture: Supplied

Taj Hart, 18, died when he was hit by a ute on Old Southern Rd at South Nowra about 3pm on February 24.

A solicitor for the accused applied for the non-publication order of the accuseds’ names on the basis that the young man had just recently turned 18 years old.

The female accused appeared in court via audio video link from Manly police station, next door to the courthouse.

She blew kisses and waved at a young man and a young woman people sitting in court. The young man told the Manly Daily he was “family”.

Alleged murder victim Taj Hart, 18, has been described as a much loved member of the community. Picture: Supplied

The accused male did not appear in court. It is understood he suffered a medical episode, while in custody at the police station, on Friday morning.

Two ambulance paramedics were seen entering the police station before the court matter was heard.

Magistrate Denes said she was ordering the interim non-publication order under Section 10 of court suppression order legislation.

Section 10 of the Court Suppression and Non-publication Orders Act the states that the “court may, without determining the merits of the application, make the order as an interim order to have effect, subject to revocation by the court, until the application is determined”.

Police investigators arrested the two accused at a caravan park on Mona Vale Rd at Terrey Hills, about 9am on Thursday.

A screengrab of dashcam footage capturing an image of a ute that was allegedly involved in the death of Taj Hart. Picture: NSW Police

The arrest came after officers from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad joined investigators from the south coast Police District to set up Strike Force Altos to investigate Mr Hart’s death.

In March, officers identified and seized a white Mitsubishi Triton utility alleged to have been involved in the incident.

Two NSW Ambulance paramedics were called to Manly police station on Friday to examine an 18-year-old man, charged with murder, after he suffered an apparent medical episode. Picture: Manly Daily

Dashcam footage of the seized ute captured shortly before the fatal collision was released by police in the hope members of the public could identify the driver.

The two accused did not apply for bail.

Magistrate Denes adjourned the matter, for mention, in Nowra Local Court, on June 7.