A TAMWORTH woman accused of trying to dispose of evidence relating to the murder of Tamworth police officer, David Rixon, to protect the alleged killer has been granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court.
Sharon Strudwick, 47, has been charged with accessory to murder after the fact for the killing on March 2, in which Senior Constable Rixon, 40, was shot multiple times after allegedly pulling over a disqualified driver for a random breath test.
Ms Strudwick's former partner, Michael Alan Jacobs, 48, has been charged with murder. Police allege Ms Strudwick told her son, James William Strudwick, 22, to flush firearm cartridges down the toilet after Mr Jacobs's arrest.
Cartridges of the same size and make as those used in the murder were found in the sewerage system near the couple's home in Tamworth soon afterwards.
Yesterday, the NSW Supreme Court heard that police had intercepted telephone calls between Ms Strudwick and Mr Jacobs in which he told her to dispose of ''certain objects''.
The Crown opposed bail on the grounds there was a risk Ms Strudwick would again attempt to tamper with evidence if she was released.
It also noted that Ms Strudwick had been granted bail soon after her arrest in April, but had breached her bail conditions by staying at the wrong address.
Her defence lawyer, James Payten, said the Crown's case against his client was weak, and that she should be allowed to return to Tamworth to care for her sick mother.
''Strong evidence has not yet been produced that she knew the significance of the relevant item,'' Mr Payten said.
Justice Stephen Campbell said that while the offence was a serious one, he did not believe Ms Strudwick was a threat to the community or a flight risk.
''One can understand a person might act in a misguided way when one's loved ones are at stake. That is an understandable human trait,'' he said. ''I say that not to in any way ameliorate the nature of the conduct, but rather by way of determining that the applicant is not a threat to the community.''
