KEY POINTS:
The woman accused of being an accessory to her own son's kidnapping - and currently in prison on a charge of contempt of court - may have to wait another four to six weeks before depositions in to her trial begin.
Today Kay Skelton was brought from the
cells to appear in Hamilton District Court for a pre-depositions matter relating to the aiding of her son Jayden's kidnapping.
In contrast to a High Court appearance several weeks ago, when Skelton was found to have been in contempt of court, this morning she looked pale and drawn. She wore a white shirt, sported no make up, and had her hair tied up.
She stood motionless in the dock.
Her lawyer Roger Laybourn expressed dissatisfaction to judge Denise Clark about the amount of time it was taking police to release facts surrounding the case, and appealed to the judge for a time limit to be imposed on disclosure.
He also said the case against his client was being advanced by the media, which was putting her in an unfair position.
Initial media reports had suggested Skelton was the one who had taken Jayden from the Hamilton Public Library on August 18, which was incorrect, Mr Laybourn said.
During an October hearing before Justice Heath, it was revealed in court that police had security footage of a woman leaving the library with a woman, known as Mrs T.
Her identity has been suppressed to protect her own children.
Mr Laybourn told the court this morning his client still had no idea where her son Jayden was, nor where her father Dick Headley was.
"She has absolutely no involvement in the alleged kidnapping."
Police believe Mr Headley has gone to ground with the six-year-old boy, who is at the centre of a tug-of-war between his father, Chris Jones, and Skelton.
Mr Laybourn complained that the defence had not been given security footage of the boy being taken from the library, which was "urgently" needed for what were likely to be lengthy oral submissions at depositions.
"The defence has very little to go on," he said. "We are seeking direction that disclosure be made in detail within 14 days and that the matter be reviewed."
Police sergeant Kevin Reid told the judge that 107 pages of disclosure had been made to the defence, but because there was considerably more preparation work to be done, the prosecution would not be ready for depositions for another month to six weeks.
Mr Laybourn said he was not satisfied with the police response. "I don't want to sound like a whinger but the case has been advanced repeatedly through the media with facts the defence know are wrong."
The police excuse that enquiries were ongoing were not accepted by the defence, he said.
Judge Clark requested more information from the police sergeant and adjourned the pre depositions matter until later in the day.
* Shortly before Skelton was imprisoned, her father Dick Headley sent letters to the Herald appealing for the six-year-old case to be investigated. Another letter accompanied the ones sent by Mr Headley, apparently penned by Jayden.