Prosecution ‘wouldn’t oppose’ Ethan Ross’ release on bail again after breaking free of monitoring

The parents of a woman who died after her boyfriend injected her with meth say they’ve been told they can’t have their say in court – but the man responsible is free to re-apply for his freedom.

The case against a young druggie who injected his girlfriend with meth to “save her” from a heroin overdose will finalise this year, a judge has ruled, but the young woman’s mother says prosecutors won’t let her deliver a victim impact statement.

Ethan Lenny George Ross earlier this year pleaded guilty to one count of supplying/administering a controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, to his dying girlfriend Amy Bowden at the pair’s Redwood Park home in February 2024.

He spent a year in prison as the case went through court, and after being released on home detention bail, he last month cut off his electronic monitoring device and went on the run.

A week in the community – including time in the affluent suburb of Millswood, court documents allege – came to an end when he handed himself into the Elizabeth Police Station with his bail officially revoked last week.

In the South Australian District Court on Friday morning however, prosecutor Amy Davis asked Judge Rauf Soulio to delay Ross’ sentencing for injecting Amy until after he stood trial for two further counts of supplying a drug to a child – next year.

That request was heavily opposed by Ross’ lawyer James Marcus, who argued if that were to be the case, his client would remain in custody well into next year.

Ethan Ross leaving court.

Amy Bowden as a young girl growing up in Victoria. Pictures: Supplied by family

“I understand that there was a position on the last occasion that now Mr Ross is in custody, that might be a reason to expedite (Amy’s) matter for him,” Ms Davis said.

“I indicate that as it currently stands that although Mr Ross has had his bail revoked, he is able to make another application for bail at any time.

“Should he provide a suitable address, I don’t see the director would oppose an application.”

Judge Soulio refused to hold sentencing procedures until Ross’ other matters are heard at trial, and scheduled a date for submissions in November.

“Will there be victim impact statements from the family of the deceased?” he asked the prosecutor.

“That’s not an easy question to answer, given the rules of impact statements but that is yet to be determined,” she said.

Speaking to The Advertiser on Friday, Amy’s mother Michelle said she was told she could not give a victim impact statement to the court because of the nature of the charge against Ross.

Amy Bowden's parents Michelle Sposito and Bryan Bowden. Picture: Ben Clark

“We were devastated when police and the prosecutor told us that we couldn’t say what we wanted to say because of the charge,” Michelle said.

“Are we not victims? We know he hasn’t been charged with her death, but he didn’t help her. This whole process has been so hard.

“That and to hear they wouldn’t be opposed to releasing him on bail again after he already broke free of his monitoring device and went on the run. What happens if he does it again? Will he just get bail again?”

Judge Soulio adjourned the matter to November, when Ross is expected in court ahead of his sentencing.

Originally published as Prosecution ‘wouldn’t oppose’ Ethan Ross’ release on bail again after breaking free of monitoring