‘I think we just killed a copper’: Bail for woman accused of murdering cop in hit-and-run

A pistillate charged with execution successful an “unusual” lawsuit implicit the decease of a constabulary serviceman successful an alleged hit-and-run has been released connected bail.

Senior Constable David Masters died aft being struck by a suspected stolen car connected the Bruce Highway astatine Burpengary, northbound of Brisbane, astir 3am connected June 26, 2021.

David Masters, 53, was a dedicated constabulary serviceman based astatine Deception Bay.

The serviceman had conscionable deployed a tyre deflation instrumentality and constabulary were not actively pursuing the vehicle.

The Crown alleges Kari O’Brien was a rider successful the car driven by Skye Anne Wallis.

Both women were arrested connected execution charges wrong days of Masters’ decease and were owed to look a committal proceeding successful May.

A bail exertion by O’Brien was palmy connected Friday, with Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Catherine Muir uncovering the prospects of a execution condemnation were not high.

If the present 27-year-old remained down bars until the proceedings it was apt she would beryllium successful custody for 5 years connected charges she had tenable prospects of defending, Muir said.

Skye Anne Wallis was arrested connected Wednesday greeting implicit the decease of Senior Constable David Masters.

The crown lawsuit was that Wallis was liable for the decease arsenic she drove the car dangerously astatine oregon towards the serviceman oregon by acting with reckless indifference to quality life, the tribunal heard.

Prosecutors, opposing the bail application, volition reason O’Brien had a communal intent with Wallis to unlawfully usage a car to debar apprehension and the offence was a probable consequence.

O’Brien besides allegedly encouraged Wallis to evade constabulary respective hours earlier Masters was struck.

Prosecutor Michael Lehane told the tribunal determination were hours of constabulary evasion astatine highly precocious speeds involving precocious risk.

He said O’Brien did not region herself aft the incidental erstwhile the women went to Wallis’ mother’s house.

“We have, connected the grounds of Michelle Wallis, the applicant saying: ‘I deliberation we conscionable killed a copper’,” Lehane said.

O’Brien’s barrister Christopher Wilson said O’Brien would “almost certainly” beryllium arguing astatine the committal proceeding that determination was insufficient grounds for her lawsuit to spell to trial.

Muir said determination was a important spread successful submissions by prosecutors and defence astir the spot of the lawsuit against O’Brien.

“I judge the facts are antithetic and … my archetypal appraisal is the prospects of the Crown obtaining a condemnation for execution cannot beryllium regarded arsenic peculiarly high.”

O’Brien has struggled with a methylamphetamine addiction and the justice described her transgression past arsenic “disappointing”, with abbreviated periods of clip successful prison.

Muir said the hazard of a murder-accused fleeing did not loom arsenic ample erstwhile determination were tenable prospects of acquittal.

O’Brien’s bail conditions included surviving with her parent who would supply a $30,000 surety and having nary drinks, drugs, weapons oregon interaction with witnesses.

The committal proceeding was scheduled for 5 days from May 27 successful Brisbane Magistrates Court.

AAP

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