The grandmother accused of creating and distributing child exploitation material online with award-winning author Craig Silvey must enter pleas at her next court appearance.
Glenda J McGregor returned to Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday via video link, where she told the court she had been unable to reach her Legal Aid lawyer.
“I called Ms Hamilton earlier this week but haven’t had a response from her,” she said.
In the courtroom, an apologetic court-appointed lawyer conceded he had “completely overlooked Ms McGregor” and agreed with the magistrate it would be best to further adjourn for three weeks.
The 68-year-old Marangaroo woman was told she must enter pleas next time to the charges levelled against her, which include two counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distributing such material and three counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.
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Failure to comply with such obligations means Ms McGregor is a reportable offender — someone who has previously committed a serious offence and requires police monitoring.
WA Police arrested Ms McGregor on February 18 and charged her with six offences as part of their investigation into Mr Silvey, author of best-sellers Jasper Jones, Runt and Honeybee.
Police said the charges came following an analysis of electronic devices seized from the novelist’s Fremantle home.
Mr Silvey has not yet entered pleas to two counts of possessing child exploitation material and one count each of producing and distributing such material. He remains on bail and will face Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Books authored by the 44-year-old were pulled from shelves following his arrest and are no longer being promoted by publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press.
The West does not suggest Ms McGregor or Mr Silvey are guilty of any of the charges.
Ms McGregor will next appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court on May 22 via video link.
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