A rural artist has faced court accused of skimming thousands of dollars from a dead man's bank account, including making a withdrawal while police investigated his disappearance.
Mirree Louise Bayliss, 46, a painter from Orange, in central west NSW, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to eight counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage.
She is accused of using 65-year-old Robert Randall's debit card to withdraw money or make purchases totalling almost $5000 between August 19 and October 8.
NSW Police issued a public appeal to find Mr Randall on October 2, saying he last made contact with relatives on August 9.
While looking into Mr Randall's disappearance, detectives allege they discovered his debit card had been used by Bayliss at an ATM in September and October.
When officers went to Bayliss's home on October 9, she told them Mr Randall had died at Orange hospital on August 17, according to a statement released by police.
"Police established a crime scene, with inquiries into the man's death ongoing," the statement said.
According to court documents, Bayliss allegedly made the first withdrawal of $1000 two days after his death.
She is also accused of withdrawing $1000 from Mr Randall's bank account on October 8, the documents say, which was six days after the public appeal for information about his whereabouts.
She is accused of making a total of eight transactions or withdrawals of between $4.71 and $1000.
Bayliss's matter was mentioned briefly in Orange Local Court, where she encountered Mr Randall's relatives in the hallway.
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say," one family member told her.
Outside the court house, relatives yelled out to Bayliss and became emotional.
Bayliss was accompanied by two supporters.
On her website, Bayliss describes herself as a contemporary Indigenous painter who hopes to build a sense of belonging through art.
Her Instagram page, which is followed by 37,000 people, describes her as an entrepreneur, an award-winning artist and author.
Magistrate David Day ordered a brief of evidence be served by the end of November.
The case returns to court on December 19.
