Victorian Homicide detectives interview woman over Wyndham Vale lake crash

Victorian Homicide Squad detectives are today speaking with a 36-year-old woman, four months after three children died when the auto they were travelling in crashed into a lake in Melbourne’s west.

Akon Guode, 36, was driving when her vehicle veered off the road and into a lake, killing her twins Anger and Madit Manyang, 4, and son Bol, 1.

She was also charged with the attempted murder of her six-year-old girl Aluel, who was in the vehicle as well but survived the crash.

Lawyer George Zolis said Guode should be held in protection while in prison, because of the nature of the allegations against her. “She is clearly concerned about the possible attitude and revocations which may flow from certain prisoners if she is in the mainstream”, he told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A Melbourne mother accused of murdering three of her children is devastated by what has happened, a court has been told.

“A lot of family and friends love her, respect her and you must remember that this is the first time this lady has ever been in any kind of court situation”. Mr Manyang was “holding up” and supported Guode along with many others, Mr Zolis said.

Victoria’s South Sudanese community rallied behind Ms Guode and the rest of the family in the wake of the tragedy.

Several family members, including a man understood to be the father of the deceased children, packed the court for Guode’s brief filing hearing.