Vic: Couple accused of baby kidnap appear in court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2004
Vic: Couple accused of baby kidnap appear in court

A married couple charged with kidnapping baby MONTANO BARBARO has appeared briefly
in a Melbourne court.

Forty-eight-year-old CHERYL McEACHRAN and husband MARK ANDREW McEACHRAN, who's 43,
didn't apply for bail in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

They turned themselves into police yesterday.

In an out-of-court sessions hearing overnight, police alleged the couple snatched the
three-week-old baby from her mother, ANITA CIANCIO, at the Brimbank Central Shopping Centre
in west suburban Deer Park on Saturday.

The couple, from Timor, near Maryborough in central Victoria, face a total of 24 charges,
including kidnapping, child stealing, false imprisonment and assault.

They said nothing as they stood behind the court's glass security screen this morning.

Defence lawyers JANE DIXON and AMANDA HURST asked for the McEACHRANS to be held in
protected custody.

Magistrate LISA HANNAN agreed and remanded the pair to reappear in court on November the 1st.





MONTANA's father JOE BARBARO was in court for the five-minute hearing.

A security guard moved to obscure Mrs McEACHRAN'S view of Mr BARBARO as he glared and
mouthed words at the accused couple.

AAP adm/szp/dk/jmt/rp

KEYWORD: MCEACHRAN (MELBOURNE)

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