Lawyer raises domestic violence case concerns after murder of Hannah Baxter and her children
A lawyer has told a magistrate it is a “horrible time to come before the court on family violence charges” after the murder of Hannah Baxter and her three children, raising concerns the horrific incident could affect her client’s case.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There are concerns a recent interstate murder case could influence sentencing on other domestic violence cases, a court has heard.
While defending a man over an “extremely serious” domestic violence case at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court, lawyer Kara Bramham told Magistrate Stephen Ballek both she and her client were worried the murder case would affect the outcome of their case.
Ms Bramham was trying to get her client released from custody on Thursday, March 5 when she shared her worries, saying her client had also phoned her with concerns.
It is understood Ms Bramham was referring to the murders of Hannah Baxter and her three children by Rowan Baxter.
“It is a horrible time to come before the court on family violence charges, in light of what’s happened recently,” Ms Bramham said.
Mr Ballek repeatedly said he was not going to treat the bail application any differently to how he would have before the murder case.
“(The client) can rest assured that particular case is not going to have any bearing on my consideration of this case,” he said.
The high-profile family violence case was raised after Mr Bramham repeatedly told the court her client should be bailed because a full intervention order against him had come into place.
MORE: HOW POLICE HANDLED FATAL MULGRAVE FAMILY VIOLENCE SHOOTING
MAGISTRATE: ‘YOU’RE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE’S DEAD’
HOW POLICE HANDLED FATAL MULGRAVE FAMILY VIOLENCE SHOOTING
“So that protects the victim and the 18-month-old son,” she said.
But Mr Ballek disagreed.
“You keep saying that, but a woman was murdered recently and there was an intervention order in place,” he said.
“It doesn’t provide full protection.”
Mr Ballek said the man was facing “really serious” allegations of assault and refused the application for bail.
“This was extremely serious offending.”