NSW: Alleged home invaders charged with murder

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
NSW: Alleged home invaders charged with murder

By Andrew Drummond

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - One of two women charged over a violent home invasion that resulted
in the death of an 87-year-old man has been refused bail in a Sydney court.

Raelene Mealey, 35, from Dulwich Hill in Sydney's inner west, was arrested at Newtown
police station yesterday and charged with murder and aggravated robbery occasioning grievous
bodily harm.

She is accused of murdering Joseph Kelly and robbing him of $700 after breaking into
his home with another woman in October last year.

Mealey sat quietly in the dock of Balmain Local Court this morning, dressed in a pink
top with her long hair tied back.

Police allege Mealey and the second accused, a 44-year-old woman from Harrington on
the NSW mid-north coast, broke into Mr Kelly's Pyrmont Bridge Road home about 10am on
October 23 last year.

"Immediately before the robbery (they) did inflict grievous bodily harm," documents
before the court allege.

The second woman is due to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today also charged with
aggravated robbery with wounding and murder.

No plea was entered by Mealey's solicitor today and her matter was adjourned for mention
via audio-visual link at Central Local Court on October 9.

"There is no application for bail today," an Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor said
on her behalf.

Magistrate Ross Clugston said the charge involved a strictly indictable offence and
he formally refused bail.

He directed that Mealey receive "appropriate" medication whilst in custody.

Prior to today's court appearance, police said the elderly man's hip had been broken
during the home invasion.

The injured man was found by a friend and taken to hospital, but died from his injuries
late the following month, they said.

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KEYWORD: MEALEY 2ND LEAD

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