Girlfriend bailed as mother of deceased escorted from court

Lucaston woman Melissa Oates has been granted bail following the Huonville roadside death of her boyfriend Jari Wise, in a move that has enraged the dead man’s family.

THE grieving mother of a young man struck dead on a roadside over the weekend has wept in rage outside a Hobart court after her son’s lover was granted bail.

Faith Tkalac (centre), Jari Wise’s mother, supported by family and friends in court outside Sunday. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Melissa Oates, 34, who is charged with four counts of breaching a family violence order, was bailed on Sunday in an out-of-hours hearing at the Hobart Magistrates Court following the death of her boyfriend, 26-year-old Jari Wise, on Saturday.

Ms Oates was held inside the courthouse until provisions could be made for her to leave safely.

Her family was also present in court, sitting on the opposite side of the room to Mr Wise’s family, having brought some spare clothes for Ms Oates to change into out of her prison issue.

Outside court, Mr Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac expressed her fury that Ms Oates was granted bail while her son had been left on the side of the road.

The family of Melissa Oates outside the Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

She said if the roles were reversed and a woman had died, a male partner would not be bailed by a court.

About 1.25am on Saturday, Mr Wise was killed after he was struck by a car as he walked along Wilmot Road, Huonville.

Police said on Saturday that Ms Oates had collided with Mr Wise.

The Lucaston woman was arrested at the scene and charged with four breaches of a police family violence order.

She was detained in custody overnight before appearing in court on Sunday morning.

Two of the breaches related to Ms Oates allegedly texting Mr Wise, while the other two related to her allegedly being within 20 metres of him – in contravention of an order made on January 17.

Ms Oates will reappear in court on March 17.