Sister breaks silence after alleged murder
The sister of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has broken down outside court after her sister's alleged killers had their charges of murder and interfering with a corpse mentioned in court for the first time.
On Friday, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33 remained in the Bundaberg Watch House and were not brought to Bundaberg Magistrates Court for their first mention.
Neither appeared over video link.
Members of the public were barred from entry on order of court staff, leaving Ms Bishop's family and media occupying seats in the courtroom.
Solicitors for Mr Wood and Ms Bromley asked the court for an adjournment to August 11 – with Ms Bromley's Legal Aid solicitor telling the court they needed the lengthy adjournment for police to prepare a full brief of evidence.
The same instructions were sought by Mr Wood's lawyer.
Both had their appearances excused on the next occasion. Tanika Bromley (pictured) lived at the Gin Gin address with her partner James Wood, and Pheobe Bishop Credit: Supplied James Wood Credit: Supplied
Outside court, Pheobe's sister Kaylea Bishop said her sibling was 'loved and missed' dearly and pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.
'I don't know what to say, but if you've got any information about Pheobe, or the car or anything like that, just come forward,' Kaylea told reporters.
'Three weeks is too long for us, as a family and all of her friends.
'We just want her home. She was loved and she's missed dearly.'
Pheobe was last seen by the housemates, who told police they were driving her to Bundaberg Airport from their home in Gin Gin in Ms Bromley's grey Hyundai ix35 on May 15.
The teenager had intended to fly from Bundaberg to Brisbane, then on to Perth to see her boyfriend.
She never boarded the flight. Mr Wood and Ms Bromley had their murder charges mentioned at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday morning. Neither appeared over video link. Paul Beutel/ NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
Police on Thursday evening charged Mr Wood and Ms Bromley with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse in relation to the disappearance of the teenager.
Police will allege the pair moved the 17-year-old's body 'on more than one occasion' after her death.
Mr Wood's car was seized by police on Thursday night and is undergoing forensic testing.
Pheobe had been living with the pair before she vanished on May 15.
More to come.
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West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Locals embrace family shattered by teen girl tragedy
A tightly knit community is rallying around the family of Pheobe Bishop after her two housemates were accused of murdering the 17-year-old. James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after Pheobe missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland. Police allege Wood and Bromley have moved Pheobe's body a number of times before they found her remains in a nearby national park on Friday. Police confirmed the remains, believed to be Pheobe, were found about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, southwest of Bundaberg. Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson was quick to share her grief on social media. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore then it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Detectives have set up a crime scene where the body was found and continue to appeal for further information. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on a property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg that has been left reeling from the tragedy. "There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP. "We believe our community to be kind and accepting. "To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it." The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the Gin Gin property she shared with Wood and Bromley. A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen. "We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one exited the car. Pheobe was allegedly murdered and her body moved more than once from the Good Night Scrub National Park, an hour's drive from the airport. Earlier on Friday, Ms Johnson said her family had been "shattered" by news of the murder charges but vowed to bring her daughter home. "We WILL bring Phee home I don't care how long it takes but we will get her home," she posted on Friday. Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after the community held on to hope for weeks. The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a "Leave the Lights On for Pheobe" campaign. Locals posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home". "There is shock in the community but Pheobe's family have got devastation," Cr Blackburn said. "This was someone's daughter, sister, cousin, aunty. There are family and friends out there who are hurting. "Their lives will never be the same again." Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.
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