26-05-2025
Woman who allegedly lied about being Aboriginal to skip jail is released on bail to a rehab farm with a chef
A woman who allegedly lied about being Aboriginal to skip jail has been released to a rehabilitation farm where she will be fed by a 'professional chef' while she awaits trial.
Hayley Terei, 33, faced Judge Robyn Harper at County Court on Thursday and was released on bail to a rehab facility on a regional property in Gippsland, Victoria.
Terei could spend up to nine months at the Windana Maryknoll Therapeutic Community doing farm chores and caring for animals as she awaits trial.
The court heard that Terei stay at the facility would be funded by her Centrelink payments.
Terei is accused of lying to the Supreme Court about her Aboriginality in an attempt to avoid jail through bail laws designed to keep First Nations people out of custody.
The 33-year-old is set to stay at the rehab facility while she awaits trial after pleading not guilty to perverting the course of justice.
The facility is located on a 'beautiful 40-acre property home to farm and native animals, planted crops, natural bushland and shared spaces to live and work' - its website reads.
The website also describes the facility as a 'peer-driven, holistic approach to recovery' where residents work together to run the community.
Windana Intake Officer Rod Cella told the court residents undertake farm chores, care for animals living on the facility's acreage and are taken on morning walks, the Herald Sun reported.
Mr Cella explained a 'professional chef' cooks breakfast for the residents because a 'healthy diet' was vital to the successful recovery of drug addicts.
He added eligible residents also had the option of taking day trips to Pakenham for various activities, such as sports.
Mr Cella told the court Terei's nine-month stay at the facility could potentially be extended to 12 months.
Terei has already served 228 days in pre-sentence detention after she was charged with eight offences in relation to a burglary in Hastings.
It's alleged seven firearms, ammunition, $470,000 cash, gold nuggets and other valuables were stolen during the high-end robbery.
Last year, the court initially granted Terei bail but it was soon revoked.
Prosecutor Fiona Martin told the court at the time that Terei had allegedly failed to comply with 'almost every' court-imposed condition.
On Thursday, Ms Martin opposed Terei's renewed bail bid claiming the alleged offender was willing to 'say anything she needed to get bail'.
She argued Terei had done so multiple times before and had not shown any change in her attitude or behaviour to prove to the court that this time was any different.
Ms Martin added Terei was a risk to the community as she allegedly knew where to find the missing firearms stolen during the Hastings robbery.
Terei's defence barrister, Ashleigh Harrold, refuted the claims, arguing her client would not have access to a car and would be isolated from former associates.
Ms Harrold told the court Terei was entitled to bail and that her criminal history should hinder her access to rehabilitation treatment for her drug addiction.
She added her client's offending was fuelled by her drug addiction and that rehab would protect the community in the long-term as well as help Terei better herself for her four children.
Mr Cella told the court Windana staff would not be able to stop Terei from leaving the grounds, however they would immediately notify police if she left the facility.
