A witness told the NSW District Court yesterday that she had found her dog hanging dead from a chain, and tapes and documents needed for court cases missing when she returned to her Wingham property last Saturday.
Grazier Patricia Roy was giving evidence at an inquiry into whether Roseanne Catt was wrongfully convicted in 1991 for assaulting, stabbing and conspiring to kill her former husband, Barry Catt. The Crown case against Ms Catt included allegations that she had fabricated evidence of Mr Catt's violent behaviour.
Ms Roy said that over the past three years, Mr Catt had assaulted her and threatened her many times and that she had taped abusive calls from him because she feared for her life. Copies of some of the tapes were tendered in court.
She said that after Mr Catt had broken her nose several years ago, she had complained to the then Taree chamber magistrate, Paul Couch, who had refused to help her take action against Mr Catt. She said that Mr Couch was a friend of Mr Catt's.
In November Ms Roy was granted an interim apprehended violence order against Mr Catt.
One of Mr Catt's telephone bills was tendered yesterday. It showed that 70 calls had been made to Ms Roy's mobile from Mr Catt's office over five days. In earlier evidence, Mr Catt accused Ms Roy of making the phone calls. He also said that her involvement in the Roseanne Catt inquiry would cause her to lose all credibility in Taree.
The inquiry continues.