Aboriginality of alleged gold thief Hayley Terei to be tested in County Court trial

An alleged gold thief who is accused of lying to the court and faking her Aboriginality in an attempt to get bail will face trial on perverting the course of justice charges.

Hayley Terei’s claim that she was Aboriginal will be tested at trial in County Court.

An alleged gold thief who is accused of lying to the court and faking her Aboriginality in an attempt to get bail will face trial on perverting the course of justice charges.

Hayley Terei, 33, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via a video link on Tuesday where she pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Magistrate Suzanne Cameron ruled there was sufficient evidence against Ms Terei to support a conviction and committed her to County Court for trial.

She did not apply for bail during the short appearance and will appear in County Court on February 18.

MS Terei’s lawyer previously told the court that recorded phone calls that allegedly proved she lied about being Aboriginal in order to get bail in the Supreme Court last year were inadmissible as evidence.

Heidelberg mum Hayley Terei has been committed to trial in County Court on charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and perverting the course of justice.

Ms Terei was granted bail on charges relating to a burglary in which guns, gold nuggets and $470,000 cash were stolen from a Hastings’ home.

The mother-of-four claimed in the Supreme Court she was an Aboriginal woman of the Yorta Yorta nation and that her cultural heritage had been “whitewashed” by her father following her Aboriginal mother’s death.

However, police analysis of recorded prison phone calls between Ms Terei and her associates while she was in prison allegedly revealed she was not Aboriginal, the court heard.

The calls allegedly revealed Terei’s mother was not Aboriginal and was in fact alive and living in New Zealand.

Ms Terei’s bail was revoked and police subsequently arrested her again.