Following the dropping of her murder charges against a prominent Adelaide physician, a young mother will celebrate Christmas at home with her newborn son.
Prosecutors reduced Jacinta Davila’s charges to aiding an offender, and on Friday, the 27-year-old was freed on home detention bond.
Initially, Davila and her partner, 22-year-old Kerem Aydin, were accused of killing reputable paediatrician Michael Yung during a violent break-in at Gilberton, in the inner-north of the city, earlier in December.
Magistrate Michael Jandy had previously been informed that Aydin was connected to bloodstains at the scene, and Davila’s DNA was discovered on a headtorch at the alleged entry point, next to a fly screen that had been cut apart.
Jandy stated there was a clear doubt over the quality of the evidence linking Davila to the crime scene, even though there was a fairly strong case that she had tampered with the evidence by trying to wash blood from garments found at the couple’s Thebarton house.
Despite the fact that her DNA was discovered at the Gilberton residence, he suggested Aydin might have carried it from her to the site of the crime.
On December 13, Jandy said Adelaide Magistrates Court, “The case will remain possibly equivocal in relation to her absent of any other evidence putting this defendant at the scene of the crime at the time.”
On Friday, Jandy granted Davila’s release from Adelaide Women’s Prison following the announcement by the prosecution that they would not object to bail.
She will be permitted to care for her and Aydin’s eight-month-old kid at their Mile End home while she is on home detention.
Alexander Jackson, her attorney, had previously stated that since she was essentially the toddler’s only carer, keeping him in detention for the duration of the protracted trial would cause him undue hardship.
He added that after the child was conceived during a one-night stand, the couple had made a failed attempt at co-parenting.
Davila’s bail requirements include wearing an electronic monitoring device, giving up her passport, avoiding communication with Aydin, and only being allowed to leave the house with a prison supervisor’s written consent.
After being given bail, Davila thanked the judge while crying.
Aydin is still facing charges related to the death of Dr. Yung and trespassing with the purpose to take goods valued at over $30,000.
In March, the two will appear in court again.
