Bradley Lyons dead: Jana Hooper, murdered Lakes Entrance man’s wife, freed on bail

A Lakes Entrance mum who spent more than two years behind bars accused of kidnapping and murdering her husband has been sent home.

Lakes Entrance man Bradley Lyons. Picture: Supplied

A Gippsland woman accused of playing a part in the murder of her husband has been granted bail.

Jana Hooper, a mother of seven, is facing charges of murder, aggravated home invasion, kidnapping, false imprisonment and intentionally causing injury after Bradley Lyons was found in a shallow grave near Bruthen in March 2019.

The 37-year-old has been locked up since her arrest in April 4, 2019.

Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney revealed his decision, on Monday, August 9, to grant the murder suspect bail pending an expected 2022 trial.

Mr Lyons, 30, disappeared after arriving at his McCulloch St home after work in December 2018.

Ms Hooper is one of five people charged over Mr Lyons death between December 2 and 3, 2018.

Police allege Mr Lyons was assaulted, kidnapped, taken to a farm and tortured before being shot and buried.

Last week Justice Tinney, who had previously denied an initial bail request for Ms Hooper, heard defence barrister Julian McMahon claim there were a number of factors which showed exceptional circumstances as to why she should be let out.

Mr McMahon argued Ms Hooper should be bailed because of the extensive three-year delay from arrest to a trial date.

He said other mitigating factors included the impact jail was having on Ms Hooper’s mental health – made more onerous by Covid, the impact her absence was on her children – four of who are on the autism spectrum and one who is pregnant, and her Indigenous heritage.

But Senior Crown prosecutor Ray Gibson previously told the court there was an unacceptable risk of Ms Hooper influencing Crown witnesses – some of which are her children.

In court documents Justice Tinney said Ms Hooper’s aboriginal heritage was a matter of great importance and only just brought to the court’s knowledge.

“I have regard to the desirability if possible of the applicant being reunited with her children, and the availability of very strong and extensive cultural and practical support for her in the community should she be released on bail,” Justice Tinney said.

“There is a good deal of material indicating the significant steps the applicant has taken since her incarceration to turn her life around from the chaotic and troubling lifestyle she was living beforehand.”

Justice Tinney found there were exceptional circumstances for Ms Hooper to be bailed.

He also said he did not consider there to be a significant risk of Ms Hooper interfering with witnesses.

“There is no evidence that in the long period of time since the applicant was charged, she has sought to influence her children,” he said.