A woman convicted of murder for colluding with her former lover to kill her husband will delay her appeal if she cannot attend the court in person.
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Margaret Anne Otto, of Risdon Vale, was sentenced to 15 years' jail for her part in the 2017 murder of her husband Dwayne Robert Davies.
READ MORE: How a wife and best friend colluded to kill
She is appealing against her conviction on the ground the jury's verdict was "unsafe and unsatisfactory" and the Crown is appealing against her sentence on the ground it was "manifestly inadequate".
Otto's counsel Caroline Graves confirmed in the Hobart Supreme Court on Tuesday if her client could not be brought to the court for the appeal that would be a deal-breaker.
"It is still the position we pursue, in terms of the potential for prejudice of Ms Otto not being able to be in court with counsel," Ms Graves said.
Currently incarcerated persons appearing in the Supreme Court have been doing so via video-link due to COVID-19.
In other news:
Justice Michael Brett said this was a matter for the Tasmanian Prison Service.
He said it was feasible the appeal could be heard in the week starting June 29 if Otto was able to attend the court as per her counsel's preference.
The court heard the appeal would take two or three days.
The matter was adjourned for a directions hearing on June 23 at 10am.
Emily Jarvie
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
