Reservoir kidnapping accused refuses to front court
A SELF-CONFESSED ice addict accused of kidnapping a five-year-old boy from outside his home has refused to appear in court today after a bizarre series of outbursts during a court hearing last night.
Law & Order
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A SELF-CONFESSED ice addict accused of kidnapping a five-year-old boy from outside his home has refused to appear in court.
Chelsea Johnstone, 33, instead stayed in the cells of the Melbourne Magistrates Court as her case was called today.
KILLER TELLS COURT HE DID NOT ACT ALONE
BROTHEL SHOOTING SHOWN TO COURT
Her legal aid lawyer said she had requested to not be brought in to court.
It comes after Ms Johnstone made a series of bizarre outbursts when appearing in court on last night.
Ms Johnstone is facing serious charges after she allegedly abducted the boy from inside his mother’s car, parked at their Reservoir home, about 8.30am yesterday.
Details of the allegations were not revealed in the brief filing hearing.
Her lawyer indicated it was her first time in custody and requested she see a psychiatric nurse for mental illness.
She was remanded to reappear for a committal mention on August 16.
Ms Johnstone is accused by police of loitering near the family home of the boy with the intention of snatching him and taking him away.
The victim’s mother was inside the home at the time. Her worst fears were realised when she returned to the car to find her son missing.
Police alleged she found her son with Ms Johnstone outside a neighbouring home.
The Herald Sun understands the mother confronted the accused, which led to an assault.
She managed to rescue her son and take him back to safety in their home before calling police.
The West Heidelberg woman was arrested at a nearby shopping centre on Plenty Rd.
She was later charged with forcibly taking the child against his will, loitering in a public place with the intention to steal a child and two counts of assault.
During last night’s court appearance Ms Johnstone gave a boisterous ‘g’day’ to her lawyer and greeted the magistrate.
Her lawyer had to caution the woman, who later reprimanded the legal representative for not pronouncing her surname correctly.
Ms Johnstone proceeded to loudly yawn, sob and duck and weave in the dock throughout the hearing.
At one stage, she used her hands as a telescope to observe police members and members of the general public seated in the gallery.
The court heard Ms Johnstone had told police she was a daily ice user and used other drugs including heroin, cannabis and ecstasy.
She suffers from bipolar and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Ms Johnstone curtsied at the magistrate as she was taken from the dock to the cells.
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