Woman kidnapped in drown attempt: crown

A Melbourne woman was kidnapped from her home, forced into a car boot and driven to
a river where her young attackers tried to drown her, a jury has heard.
As she lay in the boot of the car fearing for her life, Leah Freeman used two mobile
phones she'd hidden under her clothes to dial triple zero for help, the Victorian
Supreme Court was told.
However, strangers arrived at the scene of her attempted drowning in the Maribyrnong
River and her attackers fled, crown prosecutor Geoffrey Horgan said on Monday.
Karen Hills, Brodie Cooper and two boys who cannot be named, have pleaded not guilty
to six charges including attempted murder, intentionally cause serious injury,
kidnapping and aggravated burglary over the incident in December 2008.
Hills has pleaded not guilty to a further charge of threatening to kill.
The jury heard Ms Freeman was at her Brunswick East home watching television on the
night of the abduction.
She answered a knock at the door and Hills' brother Craig Hills forced his way in
and was followed by the four accused.
Mr Horgan said Craig Hills was not on trial, but he knew the victim and played a
central role in the attack.
The crown believed the motive related to a serious stabbing of Craig Hills and he
believed Ms Freeman would know his attackers.
As Craig Hills and the others searched her home they allegedly shouted "Where's the
rest of them", the jury heard.
Craig Hills allegedly grabbed her, threw her against a wall unit and punched and hit
her before dragging her to the car.
Karen Hills told her: "You're going to die today."
Ms Freeman hid two mobile phones under her clothes before her attackers pushed her
into the boot of the car.
A triple zero call she made while trapped inside was played to the jury in which she
says: "They're going to shoot me. I'm scared, love."
Ms Freeman can also be heard screaming at her attackers to let her out.
The car stopped at the Maribyrnong River at Keilor and Ms Freeman was dragged out
and punched and kicked.
Craig Hills allegedly told her: "I've got a scar on my chest for the rest of my life
and you're going to die for it."
All the accused were present but he was the main one trying to hold her head under
water as she gasped for air, Mr Horgan said.
But they were disturbed by strangers and fled, allowing Ms Freeman to wave down a
passing motorist who called police.
Each defence counsel for the accused denied their client was involved in the incident.
Bill Stuart, for Mr Cooper, asked jurors to listen carefully to witnesses to see if
they are truthful and reliable.
The trial continues on Tuesday.



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