Melissa Oates case almost marks one year anniversary as court hears of little progress made by prosecution

A Hobart court has heard the case of a Huon Valley woman facing charges relating to her now-dead boyfriend “still hasn’t been properly prepared” almost a year later. LATEST >>

• Melissa Oates enters not guilty pleas to 116 counts of breaching a police family violence order
• Fury erupts as Huon Valley woman Melissa Oates exits court amid more delays

THE case of a Huon Valley woman facing a slew of charges relating to her now-dead boyfriend will have reached the one year mark this week with little progress made.

Jari Wise, 26, died on February 29, 2020 after he was struck by a car while walking along a Huonville road.

While police at the time claimed the car was driven by his 34-year-old girlfriend, Melissa Oates, she has not been charged with causing his death.

The Lucaston woman, who is on bail, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with 122 counts of breaching a police family violence order, two counts of common assault and one count of injuring property.

Ms Oates previously entered not guilty pleas to 116 counts of breaching a police family violence order.

Family and friends of Jari Wise stand out the front of Hobart Magistrates Court last year as his former girlfriend Melissa Oates attended court to enter a plea which was later adjourned. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

In November, her lawyer, Garth Stevens, said the prosecution had not yet disclosed the facts and evidence it would be relying on to the defence for the two counts of common assault and one count of injuring property.

On Tuesday, he said he still had not received any of that material.

“There has simply been no correspondence from prosecution on this,” Mr Stevens said.

The prosecutor told the court the file had “only hit my desk yesterday” after coming back from the investigating police officer.

“It will be the one year anniversary of this matter on Saturday and it still hasn’t been properly prepared or disclosed,” Magistrate Hay said.

Mr Stevens said if the prosecution wanted to proceed with the 116 counts of breach of police family violence order charges, the disclosure which had been received on these charges “needs to be far better organised”.

Mr Stevens described what had been received as “illegible” and without any order.

Magistrate Hay adjourned that matter to March 4 for case management before Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly, with the aim of then setting a hearing date “as soon as possible”.

All other charges were also adjourned to the same date.