Suspect's bail angers NSW victim's dad
The father of a murdered Sydney man has stormed out of court after a judge granted bail to the woman accused of helping arrange the killing.
Justice Michael Adams on Thursday granted bail to Louise Spiteri-Ahern.
The 24-year-old is accused, along with April Barber, of hiring Daniel Haile to carry out the 2013 murder of Raymond Pasnin.
In agreeing to bail, Justice Adams said while Spiteri-Ahern was an untrustworthy witness, the crown's case that she paid $5000 to Haile for the murder and not a drug deal was not strong.
"You have got to be f***ing kidding me," said Mr Pasnin's father Jack as the judge made his ruling.
He then stormed out of the court, slamming the door.
Appearing via video link from Silverwater jail, Spiteri-Ahern put her face in her hands and cried when the judgment was delivered.
Spiteri-Ahern and Barber were both romantically linked to 27-year-old Mr Pasnin before his killing.
The court was told on Thursday that in an intercepted phone call between Spiteri-Ahern and Haile, the latter could be heard demanding money.
"Do what ever it takes to get more money," Haile is alleged to have said.
The court was told a gun could be heard racking, another term for cocking, during another intercepted call between Haile, Spiteri-Ahern and Barber.
Spiteri-Ahern said she did not know what the term racking a gun meant and that during the phone call there had been a song playing in the background.
"'She shot me down, bang bang,'" she said.
"A bang bang sound."
Police opposed bail on the grounds Spiteri-Ahern was a flight risk and that she had been picked up by police in the vicinity of the home of a crown witness.
Justice Adams said her explanation that she was only in the vicinity because of a last-minute decision to buy food for her daughter at a roadside service centre was "a trifle glib".
"(However) there is not sufficient evidence she is a flight risk other than the seriousness of the charge," he said.
"My view is bail should be granted and I intend to do it."
Spiteri-Ahern was released on $50,000 surety.
She must stay with her aunt in Wyong on the NSW Central Coast and not enter Sydney's CBD or the suburbs of Merrylands, Guildford and Parramatta except for court appearances and pre-arranged legal advice.
She must also stay away from Barber and Haile.
