Nicole Williams accused of being 'architect' of Glenn Walewicz's alleged murder

The ACT Magistrates Court has heard that Nicole Williams was the alleged “architect” behind a “botched home invasion” that led to the 2021 shooting death of Glenn Walewicz.

The 38-year-old from Holt was also charged with two fresh offences of recruiting a child to carry out a criminal act.

She appeared in court on Monday (5 September) via audio-visual link as her lawyer attempted to apply for bail, where new details of the case against her and her co-accused were revealed.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Anthony Williamson said the prosecution’s case was that Ms Williams was the “architect” of the alleged crimes in Phillip on 9 June 2021, where Mr Walewicz was shot in the neck and chest.

“[It was] a botched home invasion which led to [Glenn Walewicz’s] death, which was orchestrated by [Ms Williams]”, he said.

“[She] gave one of the juveniles the loaded gun.”

Mr Williamson alleged the two men charged with Mr Walewicz’s murder – Gary Taylor and an 18-year-old who cannot be named – had gone out that night at her “behest” to “run through” two drug dealers, but they went to the wrong home.

“Mr Walewicz was completely innocent with nothing to do with the drug trade,” he said.

Mr Williamson argued Ms Williams should not receive bail as the prosecution allegedly had “direct evidence” from those accused of being involved that she had planned the crimes which occurred that evening.

He said the prosecution had testimony from Taylor, who has pleaded guilty to murder.

Mr Williamson argued the testimony was “heavily corroborated” by intercepted text messages from Ms Williams and others charged over Mr Walewicz’s death.

He also said Ms Williams was a flight risk as she had been arrested at Kingston station with a one-way ticket interstate.

At this, Ms Williams interjected: “It was to go see my grandson … out at Broome. They’re trying to make me out to be the villain.”

According to the prosecution’s case statement, police alleged Ms Williams sent a text message asking when Taylor and the 18-year-old were ready “to do them fullas over” on the night of Mr Walewicz’s death.

It’s alleged all suspects met at Ms Williams’ home in Belconnen before departing to Phillip and that some of them returned to her home following the shooting.

The prosecution’s case also claimed Taylor made admissions to police that Ms Williams had “planned the whole thing” and supplied the 18-year-old with the gun used.

“The proceeds of the planned home invasion would initially be given to Williams. She would then re-distribute some of the proceeds,” the prosecution’s case statement alleged.

“The prosecution case is that the murder was essentially one of mistaken identity.”

The prosecution alleged Ms Williams messaged one of the co-accused, Jayden Williams, with information about Mr Walewicz’s death that hadn’t been released to the public, including “he shot him in the face son scary”.

It’s also claimed other evidence has been found against the 18-year-old charged with murder, including 961 notes on his phone, some of which contained rap lyrics about the murder.

These included “what’s popping just put your mans in a coffin” and “they told me to hit that lick instead it was a hit n pop … I schemed and leaned and dropped some blood”.

Defence lawyer Daryl Perkins argued Ms Williams should receive bail as he felt the Crown’s case was weak and she had never visited Mr Walewicz’s home.

“[It’s] conjecture that she was the prime mover of this whole unfortunate exercise,” he said.

“There’s no evidence my client orchestrated or arranged for that sort of harm.

“I say those persons are creating a story to shift a portion of the blame from themselves to someone else.”

He said the phone within Ms Williams’ home was used by a number of people who lived with her and also by members of the community.

“My client was not involved with this exercise,” Mr Perkins said.

“She may have known some of the people involved, but she’s not complicit.”

Ms Williams also interjected at this point, saying, “my phone was a community phone” before the court muted her.

Mr Perkins also said she was not a flight risk as she owned her own home in Canberra and had family ties here.

“There’s no evidence my client tried to flee the jurisdiction in that year [after Mr Walewicz’s death]”, he said.

Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter took issue with his argument, saying, “perhaps she thought she wouldn’t get caught, allegedly”.

“[If she were involved], she may have thought she got away with it,” she said.

Special Magistrate Hunter also disagreed that the prosecution’s case was weak given the submitted statements and the technological evidence.

She said while Ms Williams may have been off to visit her grandson on the day of her arrest, it looked “very suspicious” that she didn’t have a return ticket.

“It would seem she was on her way out of the ACT,” Special Magistrate Hunter said.

“In my view, she’s a very, very large flight risk.”

Special Magistrate Hunter denied bail, with Ms Williams to next appear on 19 September.

As she was led away, Ms Williams exclaimed, “I had nothing to do with the murder”, and threw her hands in the air.