‘Loved, missed dearly’: Tears from sister of missing teen Pheobe Bishop as housemates face court on murder charges
The sister of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has broken down outside court after her sister’s alleged killers had their charges of murder and interfering with a corpse mentioned in court for the first time.
On Friday, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33 remained in the Bundaberg Watch House and were not brought to Bundaberg Magistrates Court for their first mention.
Neither appeared over video link.
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Members of the public were barred from entry on order of court staff, leaving Ms Bishop’s family and media occupying seats in the courtroom.
Solicitors for Mr Wood and Ms Bromley asked Acting Magistrate Paul Byrne for an adjournment to August 11 – with Ms Bromley’s Legal Aid solicitor telling the court they needed the lengthy adjournment for police to prepare a full brief of evidence.
The same instructions were sought by Mr Wood’s lawyer.
Both had their appearances excused on the next occasion.
Outside court, Pheobe’s sister Kaylea Bishop said her sibling was “loved and missed” dearly and pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.
“I don’t know what to say, but if you’ve got any information about Pheobe, or the car or anything like that, just come forward,” Kaylea told reporters.
“Three weeks is too long for us, as a family and all of her friends.
“We just want her home. She was loved and she’s missed dearly.”
Pheobe was last seen by the housemates, who told police they were driving her to Bundaberg Airport from their home in Gin Gin in Ms Bromley’s grey Hyundai ix35 on May 15.
The teenager had intended to fly from Bundaberg to Brisbane, then on to Perth to see her boyfriend.
She never boarded the flight.
Police on Thursday evening charged Mr Wood and Ms Bromley with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse in relation to the disappearance of the teenager.
Police will allege the pair moved the 17-year-old’s body “on more than one occasion” after her death.
Mr Wood’s car was seized by police on Thursday night and is undergoing forensic testing.
Pheobe had been living with the pair before she vanished on May 15.
More to come.
