Roberta Williams’ sister Michelle Mercieca to plead guilty to theft
A year-long string of thefts from Melbourne Airport travellers has landed gangland widow Roberta Williams’ sister in hot water. But she says the family has “suffered enough” and will cop to the charges.
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The sister of gangland widow Roberta Williams will admit to stealing more than $20,000 worth of luggage from Melbourne Airport in a bizarre year long crime spree.
Michelle Mercieca, 52, has indicated she will plead guilty to 10 charges of stealing suitcases - one containing belongings worth $4,000 - from baggage carousels between October 2017 and September last year.
Mercieca lashed the media in court as she heard details of her plea would be made public, saying her family “have suffered enough”.
Mercieca was set to fight allegations she stole 19 suitcases from Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin terminals, despite police alleging to have captured the offending on hours of airport CCTV footage.
She previously told a Magistrate she would rather go to jail than admit to the crimes.
But a committal hearing in late August was called off after concerns were raised about Mercieca’s mental fitness.
After returning to the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court today, her lawyer said the matter had now resolved after five charges were dropped by prosecutors.
Mercieca, who at previous court appearances said the police were “the real thieves”, remained silent for most of the brief hearing.
But she grew frustrated when Magistrate Falla agreed to release charge sheets to the media.
“There’s enough pressure on my family,” Mercieca said.
“We’ve suffered enough.
“It brings up the past and a lot of emotions.”
Earlier this year, the court heard police allegedly recovered several suitcases from her King Park home during a police raid in September 2018, as well as children’s clothing and a baby monitor which were said to belong to victims.
At the time, Magistrate Martin Grinberg labelled the offending as “nasty” and “selfish”.
Asked for a sentencing indication — an estimate of what Ms Mercieca could face if she plead guilty — Mr Grinberg said he would have difficulty not imposing some term of imprisonment given the total value allegedly stolen.
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At the time, police alleged the total amount was more than $70,000.
This has since been reduced to about $20,000.
Mercieca will return to court in December for a plea hearing.
She remains on bail.