Local court appearances
TWO women charged in relation to the murder of Tamworth police officer Senior Constable David Rixon will face Tamworth District Court sittings next month.
Monica Sampson, 29, and Sharon Strudwick, 47, both appeared in Tamworth Local Court yesterday where their cases were adjourned to the district court level for trial and sentencing.
Strudwick has pleaded not guilty to three charges, including hinder the discovery of evidence, possess ammunition without holding a licence and do act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
In a brief hearing yesterday, Strudwick was given an opportunity by the magistrate to speak in regards to her charges, but chose not to.
He committed her to stand trial at Tamworth District Court following a telephone arraignment on November 21.
She was granted a continuation of her bail.
In a separate appearance at the local court, Monica Sampson appeared via audio-video link from a Sydney prison.
Sampson previously pleaded guilty to two charges, including hinder the discovery of evidence and do act with intent to pervert the course of justice.
She was committed to sentencing at Tamworth District Court, with a date to be fixed.
Both women faced charges of accessory after the fact of murder at their last appearances in September.
Those charges were withdrawn and replaced with the perversion of justice offences, which carry lighter maximum sentences.
The third person charged in relation to the murder, a 22-year-old man who can’t be named for legal reasons, also appeared at the local court yesterday.
His solicitor sought to make a submission to the magistrate and a result was not made available yesterday.
Senior Constable Rixon’s widow, Fiona, was present at the proceedings, supported by several of her late husband’s colleagues and his mother.
The fourth person charged with the actual murder of the police officer, Michael Jacobs, is listed to appear on November 7.