The grieving mother of murdered teenager Pheobe Bishop has launched a scathing attack on Queensland's court system, asserting that her daughter's alleged killers possess more legal protections than her own family does. Pheobe, aged just 17, was allegedly killed after disappearing while traveling from her home in Gin Gin to Bundaberg Airport on May 15, intending to catch a flight to Perth.
Frantic Search Ends in Tragedy
A massive police manhunt was initiated when Pheobe failed to arrive at the airport terminal. Her body was discovered three weeks later on June 6 in remote bushland within the Good Night Scrub National Park. Following the grim discovery, her flatmates James Wood and Tanika Bromley were charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. A third individual, Kieren Mittleheuser, faces charges of accessory after the fact to murder and attempting to pervert justice.
Family's Frustration with Legal Proceedings
Eight months after the tragedy, Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson has publicly expressed her mounting frustration with the judicial process as she awaits justice for her daughter. 'We are now dealing with a court system where criminals are protected and we as Phee's family have NO rights,' Johnson declared in a social media post that accompanied a striking black and white professional photograph of herself.
Her emotional outburst followed a court mention on February 6 for one of the three individuals accused in connection with Pheobe's death. Johnson appeared to claim that none of her daughter's family members had been formally notified about the court date, despite regular attendance at Bundaberg Magistrates Court hearings alongside Pheobe's older sister Kaylea.
'Yes, we had court support but honestly we have no rights,' Johnson stated. 'We get to sit there and listen to the pathetic excuses made by people who know my daughter as a name on paper and not as my Phee Phee. Unfortunately they have rights even though they are accused of taking my daughter's life. We have very little rights as her family.'
Symbolic Reclamation of Identity
The glamorous photograph Johnson shared featured her wearing a tight dress with sophisticated makeup and styled hair. The accompanying caption provided insight into her psychological state: 'Taking back the identity that was taken when they decided to take my child's life. You don't get to win. I get to walk this road for her, we are her voice and it will be heard.'
Despite her criticism of the court system, Johnson offered praise for Queensland Police, specifically mentioning their detective work. 'Our detective is absolutely amazing, and I can't fault police support or communication,' she acknowledged, while noting that like many government agencies, they appeared 'overworked and understaffed.'
Extended Legal Timeline
The family has reportedly been informed that the court process could extend up to three years before reaching resolution. During Bromley's most recent court appearance on February 6, she faced additional allegations of fourteen separate bail condition breaches. The former disability support worker and mother of two, currently remanded at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, had originally been charged with weapons offences and granted bail in May.
The alleged bail violations span from the week of her initial arrest on weapons charges through to June 5, 2025—the day before she was charged with Pheobe's murder and taken into custody. Her lawyer Nick Larter successfully requested an adjournment until April 7 to consolidate these matters with other pending charges.
Ongoing Court Proceedings
Mittleheuser is scheduled to appear in court on the same April date. Meanwhile, Wood was excused from appearing in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday after his lawyer Matt Maloy indicated that a final post-mortem report had been delivered to prosecutors the previous week, requiring time for document review. Wood's case has been adjourned until March 23, with his appearance excused for the next hearing.
Community Memorial and Compassionate Plea
Pheobe's remains were discovered in an isolated area of the Good Night Scrub National Park, approximately two hours from Bundaberg, in terrain known to be inhabited by wild dogs and pigs. Two days after this discovery, the Gin Gin community organized a candlelight memorial attended by Pheobe's family members.
During the memorial service, Johnson made a heartfelt appeal to the community, urging respect for the family of her daughter's accused killer following the charges against Bromley. 'I know Tanika has been charged. I know her family live within our community and I expect them to receive respect... Those kids mean the world to us as a family,' she told attendees.
Johnson emphasized that Pheobe's compassion would have extended to supporting Bromley's family during this difficult period. 'They are hurting probably more than us, even though we have lost our child,' she acknowledged. 'There is to be no anger or hate towards that family.'
The teenager had been living in Gin Gin at what has been described as a squalid residence shared with Bromley and Wood prior to her disappearance and tragic death.
