NSW: Former television presenter committed to stand = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-1999
NSW: Former television presenter committed to stand = 2

Magistrate Henson approved an application for bail by De Heredia's lawyer Malcolm Ramage,
SC.

He acknowledged strong support by De Heredia's friends and relatives and their willingness
to provide positive character references, setting bail at $100,000.

Mr Henson ordered De Heredia, who has been in custody since last September, to stay away
from international points of departure and to surrender his passport.

De Heredia has also been told not to approach either Brett Boyd, key witness Lee
Stolzenhein, or Mr Boyd's former girlfriend Simone Cheung, who Mr Ramage had attempted to call
as a witness.

Earlier in the day, Detective Senior Constable Roger Best said that Ms Cheung, a former
Sydney prostitute, had contacted police after hearing that she was being sought to give
evidence.

"(She was) asking when she was required to face court," Det Best said.

He said Ms Cheung had left a mobile contact number and police had left numerous messages on
her voicemail service.

Det Best said none of the calls had been returned.

During earlier stages of the committal hearing the court heard evidence from Lee
Stolzenhein that he had cafe meetings with De Heredia, who had been a close friend, around the
time of the incident.

Mr Stolzenhein said De Heredia told him Mr Boyd owed him money and was not going to pay
him.

He said De Heredia later called him and asked him to find out Mr Boyd's whereabouts.

After giving him the information he was visited by De Heredia at a property he was looking
after for a friend in Carlingford in Sydney's north west.

He said De Heredia had been frantic and upset and told him he had done a stupid thing -
"he'd put a bomb at Brett's Place".

The hearing was also told police had searched De Heredia's home and found a deleted letter
allegedly addressed to Detective Sergeant Ray Peattie in which he admitted placing the bomb
and stated his regret.

In the letter, De Heredia is alleged to have admitted placing a tracking device on Mr
Boyd's car to find out his address.

Other evidence given in the hearing showed similarities between De Heredia's handwriting
and writing found on an Australia Post card attached to the parcel.

Forensic tests had also found a possible match with De Heredia's DNA on latex glove remains
found in the bomb debris.

AAP as/lk/cjh/br

KEYWORD: HEREDIA 2 SYDNEY

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