Kim Scott: Widow allegedly burgled dead boyfriend’s house

A woman whose partner was killed with shears in a neighbourhood dispute, has faced court accused of stealing from her dead lover.

Kim Scott is accused of stealing from her dead boyfriend’s house.

A woman who lost her husband in a neighbourhood fight has been charged with burglary after allegedly stealing from her dead boyfriend’s house.

Kim Helena Scott is accused of walking into the Hastings home of her former lover the day after he died in non-suspicious circumstances.

Police say Ms Scott took several bags of his belongings, medication belonging to someone else and other items from the property.

Her husband, Michael ‘Willy’ Wilson, was killed after he was stabbed with garden shears by Hastings neighbour Troy Anthony Taylor in a fight in 2019.

Earlier this year Taylor pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

The homeless 43-year-old appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Friday to apply for bail.

Detective Senior Constable Catherine Weeks told the court on July 1 Ms Scott attended a Hastings house where her boyfriend had been staying.

The boyfriend had been found dead inside the property the day before, but police do not believe it was suspicious.

The witness allegedly told police Ms Scott got into the house through an unlocked door and gathered several bags of the man’s personal items and some medication belonging to a previous tenant.

She walked out, allegedly carrying some bags and leaving others at the gate.

She is then accused of coming back on a pushbike and picking up the remaining gear.

Police were called and Ms Scott was later arrested and remanded in custody.

She allegedly admitted being at the premises, but said the charges of burglary, trespass and theft were “all a load of sh**”.

Ms Scott was on bail at the time for allegedly stealing a vacuum cleaner from another Hastings home and shoplifting sunglasses and deodorant from a supermarket.

Defence lawyer Karen Sheridan said the police case was circumstantial as the alleged victim was deceased and couldn’t provide any statements as to whether or not Ms Scott was allowed into the house to remove any belongings.

She said she had already spent 23 days behind bars, this was her first time in custody and if found guilty of these relatively minor offences she would likely not be given more jail time.

She said her client had serious issues with PTSD, anxiety and homelessness and any resulting penalty would probably involve a community corrections order.

Magistrate Timothy Gattuso said there were issues over the strength of the police case, Ms Scott had access to a Restart support program and she had already served more than three weeks on remand.

She was bailed on conditions that she lives with her friend in Hastings and complies with Restart requirements.