Ex-Wentworth deputy mayor Paul Cohrs, accused of murder of mother, brother, applies for bail
A former Wentworth Shire deputy mayor, accused of murdering his mother and brother on either side of the Victoria-NSW border, has promised not to jeopardise spending “one minute more” with his family if granted bail.
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A former Wentworth Shire deputy mayor, accused of murdering his mother and brother on either side of the Victoria-NSW border, has promised not to jeopardise spending “one minute more” with his family if granted bail.
Paul Cohrs, is charged with murdering his mother Bette Cohrs-Schulz in her home in the Mildura suburb of Red Cliffs in October 2018.
Mr Cohrs is also accused of shooting dead his brother at a property in Lake Victoria, in NSW just hours earlier.
In a Supreme Court bail application on Monday, Mr Cohrs — who is representing himself after dumping his legal team — said he should be granted bail due to his ill health, need to care for his wife and his good character.
The former councillor also argued he had been unable to properly prepare his legal defence to the murder charge while in custody and was hamstrung by police and prison authorities in gathering evidence.
Mr Cohrs said he is not in a position to confirm the basis of his defence, but said it would concern his “mental state” at the time of the alleged murder.
Prosecutor Melissa Mahady told the court Mr Cohrs was an unacceptable risk to the community given the seriousness of the alleged offending and highlighted his membership of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia and possible access to firearms.
In response, Mr Cohrs said there was “no way (he) would jeopardise spending one more minute” with his family. “The thing that sticks in my mind the most, is waking up in hospital and being surrounded by my whole family, my grandchildren, my children, my wife. That certainly gave me a different outlook on life,” he told the court.
“My family’s name has been discredited financially, and my whole standing of character,”
“My main goal now is to secure the financial viability of my family,” he said.
Justice Paul Coghlan asked Mr Cohrs if he was granted bail, why he would not simply be arrested by NSW police for the alleged murder of his brother.
Mr Cohrs said: “I’m not sure what the law is ... can I be arrested immediately?”
Justice Coghlan will deliver his decision on Monday.
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