Scott Wilson, Gail Arthur, Erin Kilner to stand trial for Bendigo kidnapping

A warrant was issued for an alleged kidnapped victim after she faced her abductors, broke down and disappeared.

Bendigo women Gail Arthur, left, and Erin Kilner pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping of Kayla Parker on January 26, 2021. Picture: Zizi Averill

A magistrate was forced to issue a warrant for an alleged kidnapping victim after she disappeared midway through her teary testimony.

Scott Wilson, 50, Gail Arthur, 45, and Erin Kilner, 27, appeared in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to plead not guilty to the abduction of Kayla Parker on Monday January 25, 2021.

Ms Parker disappeared during the ten-minute break of the court hearing after being frustrated by the lawyers’ cross examination.

Magistrate Susan Wakeling was forced to issue a warrant for her arrest but Ms Parker eventually returned.

Wilson, Arthur and Kilner were accused of taking the young woman from her home and driving her across town in search of a watch Ms Parker traded for drugs after she allegedly stole it from Wilson.

The alleged kidnapping victim said she was called by an enraged Wilson demanding she return it.

Ms Parker said she was at home with a friend when Wilson started banging on her door while he was with Kilner.

She said Wilson yelled “give me my f**king watch” before busting through the security lock.

“Scotty (Wilson) dragged me by my hair down my driveway and halfway down the street,” Ms Parker said.

As they approached the car Wilson allegedly threatened to kill her unless she got in.

Ms Parker said she was put in the back seat and directed the trio to another Bendigo home, near the cinema, where the stolen watch was located.

Ms Parker’s voice broke and she started to cry as she told the court “it all felt so fast it felt like Riley (Erin Kilner) was hitting me the whole way”.

Ms Parker said she was scared to go into the home as she had “bad blood” with Lucia Dingfelder, a woman who was inside at the time.

“I was begging them not to leave me there,” she said.

Ms Parker said she was viciously attacked for a third time by Dingfelder, while her alleged kidnappers did nothing to protect her.

“I copped numerous punches and kicks to the head,” she said.

In March, Dingfelder, 22, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Kilner and was sentenced to six months prison followed by a 12-month community corrections order.

Ms Parker was challenged over inconsistencies in her statements to police, and said she had smoked “a few bumps” of marijuana and drunk two cans of Woodstock, a bourbon and cola pre-mix, on the day of her alleged abductions.

The young woman also admitted to using ice and GHB around the time of the incident.

Her neighbour, Darren Fisher described his neighbour as a “nice girl” who was “easily misled” by her friends.

Detective leading senior constable Andrew Heazlewood said Ms Parker had been charged with handling stolen goods over the stolen watch.

On Wednesday June 30, the three co-accused appeared in Bendigo Magistrates’ Court for a committal hearing.

Arthur pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, recklessly causing injury, unlawful imprisonment, aggravated burglary, home invasion and trafficking GHB.

Wilson pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, aggravated burglary, recklessly causing injury, false imprisonment, home invasion, making a threat to kill.

Kilner pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, assault, recklessly causing injury, unlawful imprisonment, home invasion, aggravated burglary and perjury.

Arthur and Gail’s bail was extended, while Wilson will remain in custody until their appearance at the Bendigo County Court on August 24.