By XAVIER SMERDON
A WERRIBEE woman facing more than 100 criminal charges will spend at least another two months in police custody at her own request.
Bronwyn Holland appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court last Tuesday, one month after being arrested in Werribee.
At the time of her arrest she was facing 128 charges but she did not appear at a scheduled hearing at the Sunshine Magistrates Court because, according to her lawyer, she was withdrawing from drugs.
The case was adjourned to last week but the Magistrate, Jelena Popovic, chastised Ms Holland’s lawyer for not having seen his client at all during the month she was in custody.
The lawyer said since Ms Holland was initially arrested she had been charged with a further six offences.
He claimed he had not received briefings on the new charges and had therefore been unable to seek instructions from Ms Holland.
It was revealed during the hearing that the majority of the 134 charges related to petrol thefts, unlicensed driving and driving with false registration plates.
A smaller number of charges related to theft of alcohol and dangerous driving while being pursued by police.
Ms Holland told the court she felt more comfortable and “better off” remaining in police custody for a further two months.
Ms Popovic made an order for the briefs on the new charges against Ms Holland to be provided to her lawyer before the case returned to the court on Tuesday 6 May.
Ms Holland was arrested at a house in Werribee on Sunday 2 February.
