Melbourne lawyer allegedly told junior solicitor to ‘make up’ a story in court

A pair of glamorous Melbourne lawyers are set to stand trial after a junior solicitor was allegedly instructed to “make up a story” to a magistrate, a court has been told.

A Melbourne lawyer allegedly told her boss she would “give my little sob story” before lying to a magistrate in the hopes of securing an adjournment, a court has been told.

ZD legal principal lawyer Zoe Davis and Rachelle Badour-Taha appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where they were committed to stand trial in the County Court.

The pair each pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and using a false document.

The court was told Ms Davis sent her junior solicitor Ms Badour-Taha instructions to “make up a story” to lie to the magistrate to try and have a warrant recalled after their client didn’t appear in court.

Ms Badour-Taha then allegedly claimed their client Alana Digby had been involved in a car accident after she failed to appear at Frankston Magistrates Court on August 7, 2023.

The magistrate refused to recall the warrant without Ms Digby present in court.

Rachelle Badour-Taha allegedly lied to a magistrate in the hopes of securing an adjournment. Picture: NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The court was told Ms Davis was complicit in the attempt as she had allegedly instructed her “very junior” colleague to “make up a story”.

“She was seeking instructions from her principal, she was told by her principal to make up a reason,” Magistrate Leon Fluxman said.

“Ms Davis was well aware of what was happening at court and Ms Badour-Taha was acting at her principal’s behest.”

Ms Badour-Taha allegedly sent a text to Ms Davis saying their client would not be present in court because she was at work and would “go back in and give my little sob story and hope he gives the f--king adjournment”.

Ms Davis is also accused of altering a Northpark Private Hospital letter in September, which Ms Badour-Taha allegedly emailed to the court to explain their client’s absence.

Ms Davis and Ms Badour-Taha were both charged with perverting the course of justice, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and using a false document.

Ms Davis allegedly instructed her junior solicitor to “make up a story” to explain their client’s absence. Picture: NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The pair pleaded not guilty to charges relating to attempting to pervert the course of justice and using false documents.

The charges of perverting the course of justice were discharged after Mr Fluxman said he was not convinced there was evidence of sufficient weight their alleged actions had perverted the course of justice.

The pair’s bail was extended and they are expected to stand trial on August 26.