Angry scenes have erupted outside a western Sydney court where a mother and stepfather charged with murdering Kiesha Abrahams had been expected to appear.
Kristi Anne Abrahams, 27, and Robert Smith, 32, are charged with the murder of six-year-old Kiesha, who was reported missing from her home at Mount Druitt in western Sydney in August last year.
Neither Abrahams nor Smith appeared in Penrith Local Court on Friday. Their lawyers said they were not required.
The pair was charged with murder, after human remains were found in bushland at Shalvey, near Mount Druitt, on April 22.
Neither has entered a plea or applied for bail.
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A small group of protesters who gathered outside the court expressed anger that neither Abrahams nor Smith, who remain in custody, appeared in court.
The group, wearing purple t-shirts bearing Kiesha's picture, has vowed to protest during every court appearance.
"Why should they hide, why?" yelled former family friend Alison Anderson.
"They should be forced to appear."
Ms Anderson said the community was still struggling to come to terms with Kiesha's death.
"We are Kiesha's voice, we are the army of Kiesha's voice," she said.
"She's not here in front of us any more but she's here in spirit and in our hearts."
Magistrate Mary Ryan adjourned the matter for mention on August 19.
