Fresh twist after a body was found lying in the middle of the road as a 21-year-old woman faces murder charges but claims she was acting in self-defence
- Woman, 21, has applied for bail after body of man found in road in country NSW
- Lily Ridgeway was arrested in March after Jason Adams, 27, was found stabbed
- She has been in custody since her arrest and has been charged with murder
- In a bail application her trial advocate said Ms Ridgeway acted in self-defence
A young woman charged with murder after the body of a man was found in the middle of a road in a New South Wales town is claiming she acted in self-defence.
Lily Ridgeway, 21, applied for bail on Wednesday with her Aboriginal Legal Aid Trial Advocate Elana Scoufis putting forward the self defence argument, according to The Newscastle Herald.
Ms Ridgeway was arrested on March 2 after the body of 27-year-old Jason Adams was found lying in the middle of an intersection in Raymond Terrace, NSW with multiple stab wounds.
Lily Ridgeway, 21, (pictured) applied for bail on Wednesday with her Aboriginal Legal Aid Trial Advocate Elana Scoufis putting forward the self defence argument
Jason Adams, 27, was stabbed to death in Raymond Terrace, in the Hunter Region of New South Wales
The discovery sparked a two-day search for by police for a woman who was known to the victim with police finding Ms Ridgeway at a Motel in North Haven.
She was charged with murder and has been in custody since March.
Mr Adams was found in the street by a neighbour on February 29 at about 5.45am and emergency services were called.
Residents of the cul-de-sac had reported being woken about 5:30am by screaming.
In Ms Ridgeway's bail hearing on Wednesday at Newcastle Local Court, Ms Scoufis said a combination of the self-defence issue, the COVID-19 pandemic, and strict bail conditions meant her client should be released.
She said that coronavirus lockdowns were preventing Ms Ridgeway from properly instructing her lawyers or from having any visitors.
Ms Ridgeway was arrested on March 2 at a Motel in North Haven, New South Wales
She also argued bail conditions, including that she live with her grandmother in Dubbo away from potential witnesses and 'negative influence,' would ease concerns about her release.
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The magistrate said that while Ms Ridgeway had shown cause why she should be released, she was an unacceptable risk of not appearing for trial because of existing outstanding warrants.
She remains in custody with a trial to be scheduled in the NSW Supreme Court.
Mr Adams' body was found in the street on Saturday morning sparking a two day search for a woman known to him
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