Grace Hughes alleged kidnapper Juliet Oldroyd granted bail during bizarre court hearing

A woman involved in the alleged kidnapping of a five-year-old has been granted bail despite last week insisting she ‘felt safer in jail’. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A WOMAN who was allegedly involved in the abduction of Darwin five-year-old Grace Hughes has been granted bail despite fears her release could compromise the ongoing police investigation.

Juliet Marie Oldroyd faced the Darwin Local Court on Monday where she stands charged with abducting Grace from an address in Berrimah on August 7.

During the rowdy hearing, repeatedly interrupted by Oldroyd’s supporters, Flinders University law student, John Quaremba, an associate of her husband’s, sought leave to speak on Oldroyd’s behalf.

But judge Dick Wallace refused his application after she told Mr Quaremba “I don’t know who you are” and threatened to hold him in contempt if he did not leave the bar table.

“As far as I can see, you are not instructed or instructable in the matter and I’m not going to hear from you,” he said.

“Stop talking and get back out of the bar table or I will have you locked up.”

Appearing via video link, Oldroyd said she was “under duress and stress” in prison had changed her mind since declining to apply for bail as she felt “safer in jail” last week.

Juliet Marie Oldroyd, 50, appeared in court via video link.

Oldroyd insisted her name was not “not Ms Oldroyd, it’s Juliet Maree” and had been denied an opportunity to speak to a lawyer, had not had access to pain medication and had had little sleep.

“I am an internationally recognised human rights advocate, and according to universal principles of international law, while I’m acting in the office as a human rights advocate I’m immune to prosecution,” she said.

But Oldroyd conceded that “obviously I would like to get out on bail, yes”.

Crown prosecutor Tiarni McNamee said bail was opposed due to the strength of the case against Oldroyd and concerns “that potentially there might be some interference with the evidence”.

“As I understand it, your honour, she’s part of a larger group of people, and there’s no issues with groups, but there’s a concern for dissemination of information and that might affect the ongoing investigation,” she said.

Grace Hughes was brought to police on Friday, August 19.

“I can’t really specify right now, it probably wouldn’t be appropriate to, but ongoing investigations in relation to another person in this matter and possibly others.”

But in granting bail on a $2000 surety, Mr Wallace said there was no compelling reason to keep Oldroyd locked up, while ordering that she have no contact with Grace or two of her relatives.

“What was put forward by the prosecution as reason to keep you in prison, namely that investigations are proceeding, doesn’t seem to me to be anywhere near adequate in this society to keep someone in jail who’s never before been in trouble with the law,” he said.

“I would strongly advise you to get in touch with a lawyer, be it at a legal aid service or a private lawyer as soon as you can on your release.”

Grace’s mother, Laura Adele Hinks, is also due to face the Darwin Local Court over her alleged role in the abduction on Monday afternoon.