Mrs Branchi was taken into custody late on Thursday from The Queenslea residential aged care home in Claremont, one of Perth's most expensive care facilities where lump sum deposits for a room reportedly exceed $1.6 million. She appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday via audio link from a bedside hearing, where she could be heard crying.
Her legal aid lawyer attempted to apply for bail, but the magistrate stated that it was not within her jurisdiction to hear such an application due to the seriousness of the charge. Under Western Australian law, bail applications for murder and attempted murder charges must be heard at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court, which exclusively handles preliminary proceedings for serious criminal offences bound for the Supreme Court. Stirling Gardens sits only once a fortnight.
The court heard there were some "cognitive mental capacity" issues. The magistrate expressed concern about Mrs Branchi remaining in custody, noting she was very vulnerable and possibly living with dementia. "I have real concerns as to whether she can be remanded in custody," she said, adding, "my hands are tied."
Court records show that Gay and Robert Branchi shared a room at The Queenslea. The couple also still own a four-bedroom riverside home in Mosman Park, which they first bought in 1995 for $1.5 million.
Robert Branchi served as chairman of the Perth-based car dealership network Automotive Holdings Group from 2004 until his retirement in late 2010. He had previously served as a director for 25 years and was a substantial shareholder, owning more than 17 million shares as of 2007.