Woman facing manslaughter charges seeks bail to care for young child

A woman facing manslaughter charges over the death of her boyfriend has told a court why she shouldn’t remain in custody.

A woman facing manslaughter charges over the death of her boyfriend will seek bail to care for her five-year-old daughter, a court has been told.

Merlin Smith, 33, was found unresponsive on the side of a road near a silver Mitsubishi Outlander in Jindalee, in Perth’s north on November 23.

Police alleged he had been hit by a car and died at the scene.

The Outlander was allegedly captured by security video pulling up outside a home on Carmathen Ave at 5.26pm before quickly reversing back towards Marmion Ave.

Merlin Smith, was found unresponsive next to a car on a Perth roadside last month. Picture: Supplied

His partner Briana Faye Thorne was taken into custody and charged with manslaughter.

She appeared in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday via video link from prison. Her lawyer told the court his client would apply for bail.

The court was told Ms Thorne had never been in custody before and had a five-year old daughter who was being looked after by her mother.

“She wants to get out to give support to her daughter and mother,” her lawyer said.

Magistrate Janet Whitbread ordered a home detention assessment report and remanded Ms Thorne in custody until February 5 for a bail application hearing.

Originally published as Woman facing manslaughter charges seeks bail to care for young child