This morning, a magistrate authorized the arrest of Shania Lee, coming roughly four months after she was released on bail.
At 27 years old, Lee faces charges including two counts of negligent manslaughter and one count of negligently causing serious injury, all stemming from a house fire incident in September 2024.
The prosecutor indicated that additional charges would be brought against Lee for violating the conditions of her bail.
Lee was initially released on bail to a residence in Moama, NSW, with the stipulation that she report to the police in Echuca three times a week and inform them of any address changes.
According to Patel, Lee had expressed willingness to turn herself in to police custody this week but did not receive a reply, leading prosecutors to request the revocation of her bail.
Magistrate Kieran Gilligan stated that due to “the serious nature of the charges,” it was necessary to issue a warrant for her arrest.
“If she was wanting to hand herself in, she could have handed herself into any police station,” the magistrate said.
After the warrant was issued, her bail was forfeited and the matter was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Lee’s co-accused, her former partner Matthew McAuliffe, was charged with negligent manslaughter in September last year.
However, the case against him was discontinued in November as he died while on bail.
