Woman bailed from County Court after pleading guilty to Echuca home attack

Rebecca Rose McGee, 35, last year pleaded guilty in the County Court to five charges, including recklessly causing serious injury, drug trafficking, possessing controlled weapons, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The court was told on September 15, 2019, a 42-year-old man went "under false pretences" to the house McGee shared with her partner.

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When he arrived, McGee locked the doors and he was attacked by her partner.

The victim suffered at least two stab wounds, fractures, cuts, and bruises. He needed three surgeries to repair the damage.

The court heard police who attended the house found heroin, cash, and the weapons - a slingshot and two swords.

A second search in January last year, when McGee was arrested, uncovered more drugs.

In total, five grams of pure heroin was seized.

McGee was due to be sentenced on Monday but the matter was adjourned because of a delay with a justice plan report. McGee instead lodged an application for bail.

McGee's defence lawyer Angus Cameron told the court his client was deemed suitable to be released on the Court Integrated Services Program.

Mr Cameron said McGee had stable accommodation in Echuca, access to a mobile phone to comply with CISP requirements, and a suitable pharmacy to obtain her methadone treatment.

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The defence lawyer told the court McGee should be released because she had already spent more time in custody than she would receive in sentencing.

But prosecutor Jordan O'Toole told the court there was insufficient support in place to mitigate the risks of McGee's release.

Mr O'Toole said there was no evidence that there would be drug rehabilitation or mental health treatment as part of CISP.

He also said McGee's allocated address upon release was unsuitable.

Judge Felicity Hampel said she was satisfied it would be "fair and just" to release McGee on bail.

Judge Hampel said the only reason McGee could not be sentenced on Monday was due to delays with the justice plan.

She said the considerable delay between McGee's plea in November and sentencing was already longer than her likely sentence.

McGee was released on CISP bail. She was ordered to stay at the Echuca address and to not contact or associate with the victim.

McGee is due to return to the County Court in April for sentencing.

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