By 9News,Emily Woods
Copyright 9news
Eleven years ago, a woman was jailed for helping cover up a bloody murder by cleaning the crime scene.
Now, police fear Crystal Portelli has destroyed a car to hide her alleged involvement in the hit-run of a 40-year-old cyclist.
“This is the second known instance where the accused has actively engaged in conduct to cover up a crime resulting in death, having previously masterminded efforts to dispose of evidence of a murder,” Senior Constable Stuart Dale told Melbourne Magistrates Court.
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Portelli, 40, has been charged with four offences after it’s alleged she fled the scene of a fatal crash.
A cyclist died after being hit by an Audi which police allege Portelli was driving, at Coburg in Melbourne’s north, on August 24.
Detectives have not located the Audi since the crash.
Portelli applied for bail in court today, which police opposed due to several risks she posed: to community safety, obstructing the course of justice and failing to answer bail.
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“Police efforts to locate the Audi used in this offending are ongoing, and believe the accused presents an unacceptable risk of obstructing the police search for the vehicle if granted bail,” Sen Const Dale said.
Portelli is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to render assistance, failing to report a collision to police and driving while suspended.
Dale said she is yet to be charged with any offences regarding the fatal collision, but police investigations to locate the Audi were continuing.
“Dangerous driving causing death charges are under consideration,” he said.
The officer went through Portelli’s long list of priors, including 24 previous contraventions of bail conditions, several driving offences and the assist murder conviction for which she was jailed for eight months.
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“The accused has an extensive criminal history spanning the last 14 years, including offences with direct relevance to the current offending,” Dale said
“This includes on the 11th of May 2013 … the accused co-ordinated and participated in the cleaning of a murder scene and the arson of a motor vehicle to assist the primary offender avoiding apprehension and prosecution.”
Portelli’s 25 pages of priors also include speeding to get away from police, driving through a red light and then through a park before running from the vehicle, the court was told.
The officer said Portelli’s licence had been suspended when the August crash occurred and she had 113 demerit points.
Her defence lawyer argued Portelli’s current charges were not serious and she was entitled to bail.
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He asked magistrate Felicity Broughton not to hand Portelli “a form of preventative detention or punishment” by keeping her behind bars based on prior offending.
However, the magistrate denied Portelli’s release citing her “significant history” of offending and risk that she may obstruct the course of justice due to her murder assist prior.
Portelli, who cried as the magistrate rejected her bail application, will return to the court on January 5.
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