By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
Murder accused released to custody of parents…
A FERNTREE Gully woman has been granted bail after being charged with the murder of her former boyfriend’s flat mate.
Due to her profound deafness, the court was satisfied Georgia Fields’ circumstances were exceptional enough for her to be released into the custody of her parents.
Ms Field, who was 19 at the time of the incident, was charged, along with Warwick Toohey and Jake Fairest, with the murder of Mr Toohey’s former flat mate, Robert Wright.
Ms Fields was in a relationship with Mr Toohey, 28, at the time of Mr Wright’s murder.
The trio were caught on CCTV allegedly using Auslan sign language to discuss how best to murder Mr Wright.
The footage was first captured on a train and then in the lobby of the building where Mr Toohey and Mr Wright shared their accommodation.
Mr Wright and Mr Toohey had shared accommodation in Ringwood, acquired with the assistance of Victorian Deaf Society.
It is alleged Mr Toohey and Mr Fairest restrained Mr Wright before throwing him off the 12m balcony at the building.
Ms Fields allegedly watched as Mr Wright resisted before he was thrown from the balcony.
It remains unclear who dropped Mr Wright.
Justice Stephen Kaye was satisfied Ms Fields was experiencing difficulties in custody due to her disability and limited capacity for communication.
“I am satisfied that in the unusual circumstances of this case, the applicant has established the requisite exceptional circumstances that would justify the grant of bail to her,” he said.
Ms Fields has been released into the custody of her parents with several conditions of her bail grant including not leaving her parents’ house at night and reporting to Knox police station daily.
