Court hears 'offensive weapon' in alleged robbery was woman's pet dog

The “offensive weapon” a woman is accused of using in an alleged robbery was her pet German Shepherd, a court has heard.

Kira Lee Meagher, 23, was charged with aggravated robbery and taking a motor vehicle without consent when she appeared over audio visual link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (28 September).

Her Legal Aid lawyer, Georgina Meikle, told the court the “offensive weapon” alleged to have been used during the incident on Monday (27 September) was “Ms Meagher’s pet dog”.

She said it appeared the taking a motor vehicle without consent charge was a backup to aggravated robbery.

Ms Meikle said it was “overcharging” for her client’s pet dog to be considered the circumstance of aggravation.

“It’s a German Shepherd though,” Magistrate James Stewart remarked.

“Certainly, but nothing in the facts suggests it was being used as a weapon. It was just in her company at the time,” Ms Meikle replied.

Prosecutor Ms Sheridan argued the complainant in the alleged robbery did feel fear due to the presence of the dog, which did make the charge aggravated.

Meagher also spoke up over the audio visual link at times.

“I was living out of my car because I was homeless with my dog,” she said.

Ms Meikle said her client’s life had begun to “unravel” over the past year. She transferred her degree in health to a Melbourne campus, but then couldn’t move due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

She worked in an industry where a client introduced her to methamphetamine and her drug use had “spiralled”. Both of her parents are incarcerated at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

As Meagher had already pleaded guilty to charges of theft, she had to show there were special circumstances for her to be released on bail.

Magistrate Stewart said the new charges were laid after Meagher was alleged to be “well intoxicated and behaving in a very, very erratic, unlawful and in one view dangerous manner” with her driving and towards the alleged victim.

He said no special circumstances had been demonstrated and he did not believe the aggravated robbery charge was an example of overcharging.

“The fact of her spiralling drug use is not special or exceptional, in fact it’s commonplace,” he said.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to 12 October.