Gangland widow Judy Moran refused bail

BY MEX COOPER

A magistrate has refused bail for gangland matriarch Judy Moran and one of her co-accused, Suzanne Kane.

Moran, 64, who is accused of helping the alleged killers of her brother-in-law, Desmond 'Tuppence' Moran, applied for bail at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic said her decision to refuse bail was based on a firearm found in the shooter's getaway car, allegedly dumped by Moran, and three handguns and a shotgun found at her Melbourne house.

"It is the  location of the firearms that causes me the most concern,'' Ms Popovic said.

Ms Popovic said the defendants had been charged with a "very serious offence'' but it had been up to the prosecution  to prove that they were an unacceptable risk.

She described the evidence of the Purana Taskforce witnesses in the bail application "as evasive and unhelpful''.

As Moran and Kane were led from court,  a male observer yelled out: "Garbage Jude, don't worry about it ... you'll be out soon love''.

Earlier, the court heard that Moran posed an unacceptable flight risk.

Moran, 64, and one of her co-accused, Suzanne Kane, are charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.

A curly-haired Moran entered court on a walking stick, wearing a black top and thick, black-framed glasses.

Detective Senior Constable Reidy told  the court that Moran had driven the getaway car, while wearing woollen knitted gloves, from a garage at her house - 1.5 kilometres away from where the car was dumped.

A rifle and gun case was found on the the rear floor of the car and gloves, which police had witnessed her wearing, were found dumped in bushes, the court was told.

A search of Moran's house - where Kane and co-accused Geoff Amour were staying -  revealed a hidden safe with three handguns and clothing and a wig believed to have been worn by the gunman during the murder and two stolen Victorian registration plates.

A loaded shotgun was also found near the rear of the house.

Detective Senior Constable Reidy  said electronic surveillance had recorded Moran telling alleged shooter Amour that she had hidden or disposed devices used in Des Moran's murder.

Judy Moran gave a "no comment'' interview to police, the court heard.

Detective Senior Constable Reidy agreed with Moran's defence lawyer, Damian Sheales, that he did not know if Moran  had contacts overseas, had ever been overseas or held a current passport.

Mr Sheales told the court that police were not alleging that either woman had been complicit in the murder and that the offences they were charged with did not warrant the prosecution's objection to bail.

He said Moran  was accused of driving a car from  one suburb to the other and that Kane was accused of moving registration plates from ``A to B'' on the same premises.

Purana Taskforce investigator Detective Senior Constable Stephen Reidy said police were still looking for a gunman and getaway driver.

Detective Senior Constable Reidy said police opposed bail because they were concerned Moran could obstruct the course of justice.

He said Moran could flee Australia if she was given bail.

"She has the capability to organise a flight from Australia,'' Detective Senior Constable Reidy told the court.

"We believe she will obstruct the course of justice if released - she has shown a propensity to destroy evidence,'' he said.

He said they also feared she could endanger the safety and wellbeing of the general public.

"This is an ongoing investigation and we believe she will endanger the safety and wellbeing of the public,'' Detective Senior Constable Reidy said.

One of Moran's co-accused, Suzanne Kane, 45, of Dawesville, Western Australia, also appeared in court, dressed in a woollen black top with her peroxide-blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.

The court heard that Kane allegedly took registration plates off the getaway car and hid them in a safe at Moran's house.

Earlier today people lined the walls of the packed courtroom which was filled with reporters, court sketch artists, relatives of accused felons and Donvale Christian College students on a court excursion.

- © Fairfax NZ News