Accused mum gets support

A NATIONAL advocate for victims of crime has thrown her support behind a mother charged with stealing her children.

Bravehearts founder and chair Hetty Johnston said she wanted to support through the legal process the 46- year- old woman accused of abducting her daughters from Townsville in 2014.

Ms Johnston called for an independent review into the police investigation which led to charges being laid against the mother.

The mother is charged with two counts of child stealing and her matter was mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday.

Defence lawyer Cassandra Nitz said the prosecution had failed to provide a brief of evidence despite a court order instructing them to do so by June 19.

Police prosecutor Len Brown said the investigating officer had been on leave and there had been a delay in obtaining statements from other agencies involved.

Mr Brown said the brief was expected to be completed by August 1.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann adjourned the matter to August 27 with a partial brief to be disclosed to the defence in the interim.

Bravehearts, under the lead of Ms Johnston, is campaigning for a royal commission inquiry into the Family Law Court and the child protection system.