A woman afraid that she would lose her New Zealand boyfriend lied to Australian police about his involvement in a serious Sydney street bashing.
Chantel Taia lied to protect her partner of six years, but the lie came unstuck when police discovered she was called repeatedly from a mobile phone stolen from the bashing victim, a Sydney court was told today.
Ms Taia, 19, of Matraville, was given a suspended jail sentence for failing to tell police about the bashing of Irishman David Keohane in Coogee, The Australian newspaper reported.
Mr Keohane, 29, was found 3am on August 9 with serious head injuries.
He has been in a coma since the attack, and was taken back to Ireland by his family last month.
New Zealander Thomas Isaako, 19, has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated robbery with wounding.
Documents before the court showed a mobile phone stolen from Mr Keohane was used to call Ms Taia 18 times between August 9 and August 12.
Approached by police, Ms Taia denied knowing Mr Keohane or recognising the number which had called her. Police then tapped her phone and took her in for questioning.
Four days later, on September 30, Ms Taia was charged with hindering police and admitted what she knew of the bashing.
Mr Isaako remains in custody and is due to face court again on November 27.
Meanwhile, police still want to talk to another New Zealander, Kane Desmond Tupuolamaoui, 19, over the attack.
They have offered a $A1000 ($NZ1130) reward for information leading to his arrest.
