SA: Man accused of mother's murder is granted bail

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
SA: Man accused of mother's murder is granted bail

A man accused of murdering his mother has been granted bail .. after a judge ordered
his release on home detention.

THOMAS HEYWARD is one of four men accused of murdering Mt Gambier woman GLENYS HEYWARD
.. who was last seen alive on July 23.

Her body was found last month on a remote property in western Victoria.

Also charged with her murder are Mrs HEYWARD'S estranged de facto husband NEIL HEYWARD
.. second son MATTHEW HEYWARD .. and farmhand JEREMY ADAM MINTER.

NEIL HEYWARD and MINTER remain in custody but MATTHEW HEYWARD's also been released on bail.

In the Supreme Court today Justice MICHAEL DAVID was told that the case against THOMAS
HEYWARD would hinge on the testimony expected to come from MINTER.

But Justice DAVID said he's concerned that no decision on whether or not to call MINTER
as a witness at trial would not be made until at least March next year.

Taking that into account he decided to grant home detention bail .. allowing HEYWARD
to live with his girlfriend and her parents at a property near Glencoe .. 25kms from Mt
Gambier.

Justice DAVID said once a decision was made on MINTER'S status as a witness .. prosecutors
could call the matter back on and seek to have THOMAS HEYWARD returned to custody.

AAP RTV tjd/af/bart

KEYWORD: HEYWARD (ADELAIDE)

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