A Haywards Bay woman accused of helping alleged murderer Darren Butler while he was on the run from police over a fatal fuel tanker crash at Albion Park Rail has been identified in court as Maddison Maureen Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Day, 22, was arrested on Tuesday morning after a short, armed stand-off with police at her Haywards Bay Drive home and charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and using an offensive weapon to prevent apprehension.
Day chose not to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday during a brief mention of her matter, with her lawyer asking for her to remain in custody and the case be adjourned overnight.
However, charge sheets tendered to the court at the time said police will allege Day "maintained and assisted" Butler for almost two weeks, "knowing the said, Darren Butler, to have committed the serious indictable offence, to wit, murder, on the 18/05/2019".
The exact nature of the alleged assistance offered to Butler has not yet been revealed, however it expected to be aired if Day proceeds with a scheduled bail application on Wednesday.
Day is the sixth person to be charged over the May 18 incident, which saw father-of-seven Daniel Merrett killed when the Ford Territory he was a passenger in slammed into the fuel tanker at an estimated speed of about 160km/h.
The Territory's driver Kayleen Merrett, and fellow passengers Jakaya Clulow and Thomas Johnson were seriously injured in the crash.
Police will allege the Territory was being pursued by a Toyota Corolla containing Darren Butler, Andrew Russell and Holly Green following an earlier confrontation between the two groups at a Cringila service station over Mr Johnson's unpaid debt to Green's brother.
It is alleged Butler and Russell fired a number of shots at the Territory as it fled.
Butler and Russell have been charged with murder, while Green is facing a charge of attempted aggravated armed robbery.
Ryan, Powers, and now Day, are facing accessory after the fact to murder charges amid allegations all three helped Butler avoid police while there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Butler was eventually arrested on May 30 near Westfield Figtree.
Butler, Russell, Powers, Green and Ryan all remain behind bars and will next appear in court on July 17.