Barbara Eckersley stayed seated in the public gallery as her murder charge was again mentioned in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday.
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The 66-year-old Bundanoon woman is accused of murdering her 92-year-old mother, Dr Mary White, at a nursing home in the village on August 5.
Mrs Eckersley, who has not entered a plea, sat calmly and neatly dressed next to her husband as the matter arose for the third time.
On her last appearance on August 10 she stood in the dock of Goulburn Local Court before being granted conditional bail. Police had arrested and charged her two days earlier after being called to the facility in regard to Dr White’s death. Dr White was a resident of the complex.
On Wednesday, the police prosecutor said a full brief of evidence could not be tendered until police had received an autopsy report, which would include toxicology results. She asked for a three-month adjournment.
However, the prosecutor said a record of interview could be tendered at this stage.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie ordered that parts of the brief be tendered this week, with the balance by December 5.
She adjourned the matter to that date and continued Eckersley’s conditional bail.
Mrs Beattie agreed to solicitor Sam Rowland’s request that his client be excused from attending court on that date if legally represented.
On August 10, her barrister Hugh White (no relation) had argued that Eckersley should be granted bail to deal with health issues and her because the Crown case was “by no means conclusive” and a custodial sentence “might not be imposed.”
Under the terms of her bail, the defendant must reside in Bundanoon and not approach prosecution witnesses or the Warrigal Aged Care facility in the village. Ms Beattie also ordered Eckersley to surrender her passport and sought $20,000 bail surety.
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