Violent home invaders charged with murder
One of two women charged over a violent home invasion that resulted in the death of an 87-year-old Joseph Kelly 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 on Tuesday and charged with murder and aggravated robbery occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Raelene Mealey is accused of murdering Joseph Kelly and robbing him of $700 after breaking into his home with another woman in October last year.
Raelene Mealey sat quietly in the dock of Balmain Local Court on Wednesday morning, dressed in a pink top with her long hair tied back.
Police allege Raelene Mealey and the second accused, a 44-year-old woman from Harrington on the NSW mid-north coast, broke into Joseph Kelly's Pyrmont Bridge Road home about 10am on October 23 last year.
"Immediately before the robbery (they) did inflict grievous bodily harm on 87 year old Joseph Kelly," documents before the court allege.
The second woman is due to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court also charged with aggravated robbery with wounding and murder.
No plea was entered by Raelene Mealey's solicitor 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 Raelene Mealey receive "appropriate" medication whilst in custody.
Prior to Wednesday's court appearance, police said Joseph Kelly's hip had been broken during the home invasion.
Joseph Kelly was found by a friend and taken to hospital, but died from his injuries late the following month, they said.
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