Danielle Easey’s family in court after two charged
Two people charged in relation to the alleged murder of Danielle Easey, whose body was found dumped near Lake Macquarie, have both been refused bail. Outside court, Ms Easey’s father said ‘I wanted to look him in the eye’ in relation to one of the accused.
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- Danielle Easey murdered at ‘safe house’ police allege
- Two arrested in relation to murder of Danielle Easey
The two people charged in relation to the alleged murder of Danielle Easey, whose body was found dumped in Cockle Creek, near Lake Macquarie, have both been refused bail.
Justin Kent Dilosa, 33, of Cardiff, was not required to appear via video link when his matter was mentioned briefly in Belmont Local Court on Friday.
Charge sheets tendered to court allege Mr Dilosa murdered Danielle Louise Easey some time between 12.01am and 11.59pm on August 17 at Narara.
His Legal Aid solicitor did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Magistrate Peter Barnett adjourned the matter to Gosford Local Court on November 15.
Several of Ms Easey’s family members were at court but left disappointed they did not get a chance to see the man charged with her murder.
“I’m glad the police have done an excellent job and I appreciate all the effort the guys have done,” her father Colin Easey said outside court.
“I’d like to see some really good justice for my daughter. She was just a beautiful mother, she was a beautiful person. She was alive … I just can’t believe she’s gone.
“It’s a senseless [death], what did she do so bad to receive what she did.”
Mr Easey said he “wanted to look him in the eye” even if it was just through the large monitor at court.
“I want to look her (Mr Dilosa’s co-accused) in the eye too,” he added.
At Toronto Local Court, Carol McHenry — who also goes by ‘Caz’ Dawson, 32 — who has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder and dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, had her application for bail refused.
McHenry’s lawyer argued his client, who appeared via video link, had very limited criminal history and there were concerns for her four children if she stayed in custody.
He told the court McHenry did have drug and alcohol issues, mainly ice, but she was willing to comply with strict conditions if granted bail.
The prosecutor strongly opposed the application, given the seriousness of the offence, and said there was further concern she may interfere with the investigation.
McHenry appeared clearly distressed and started crying as magistrate Michael Monahan said he was not prepared to grant bail.
Her matter was adjourned until October 30 at Newcastle Local Court.
Outside Toronto Court family friend Shane Aggett, who has known Danielle since she was six years old, said he wanted to be in court for Danielle and her family.
“We just wanted to come and make sure [the accused] didn’t get released,” Mr Aggett said.
Dilosa was arrested on Thursday morning at the old chicken factory at Cardiff where he had been employed and lived in a tiny brick office building as a caretaker.
His former partner, McHenry, was arrested at a home at Holmesville about an hour later.
About 10.30am on Saturday, August 31, police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman’s body, was removed from the water by officers.
The woman was formally identified as Danielle Easey, 29, who lived in Booragul with family, but had more recently been staying at multiple locations around the area.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
On Thursday, they revealed that Easey had been seriously beaten and stabbed.
Their inquiries revealed Ms Easey was allegedly murdered at a home at Narara on or around Saturday August 17, before being transported and dumped at Cockle Creek.
Homicide squad detectives will allege Ms Easey’s social media account was hacked to access cash, as her body lay wrapped in plastic at a disused chicken processing factory before her alleged killer finally disposed of her remains.
On Thursday detectives executed two crime scene warrants at the Cardiff chicken factory and a home at Narara, and a search warrant at the Holmesville home.
Specialist forensic police are continuing to examine the Cardiff and Narara properties.
Investigators seized a Mitsubishi Delica at Cardiff which has been forensically examined.
Meanwhile, the incident in Narara has left neighbours in shock. B
But in May 2017 there was another devastating crime which occurred less than 100m away that had residents stunned.
At a public pathway linking Reeves St to nearby Carrington St a schoolgirl, 12, was dragged into bushland, tied up and sexually assaulted by a man wearing a ghillie suit. Three months later police arrested a father-of-three, 33, over the crime.
He has since pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year.
The incidents are in no way linked but the aftershocks continue to be felt.
