Mervyn John Ferry, 41, appeared before Magistrate Jan Stevenson charged with conspiring and agreeing to murder a person between September 3 and November 4.

He had previously been charged with three counts of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, two counts of take and detain, five counts of occasioning actual bodily harm and four counts of common assault.

The initial charges relate to the alleged kidnapping of a 26-year-old Bathurst man who was held captive in a house in Fish Parade for six months.

Police allege Ferry and his partner Paula Diane Morrison held the man against his will, starved him of food and continually beat him.

The alleged victim required treatment in Bathurst and Sydney hospitals where a number of old and new injuries had been found, allegedly the result of repeated assaults with an iron bar, fists and feet.

Yesterday Ferry was also charged with additional offences of take/detain in company with attempt to obtain advantage and occasioning actual bodily harm, relating to offences against a man, then aged 18, between 2007 and 2009. Police allege injuries to the second victim are similar to the first.

Ferry, wearing prison greens and handcuffs, sat passively during the brief appearance. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused by the court.

His partner, 46-year-old Morrison, appeared via video link from Silverwater women’s correctional centre.

Additional charges against Morrison included take/detain in company with intent to obtain advantage and occasion actual bodily harm.

Morrison, also wearing prison greens with her hair plaited and pulled severely to one side, only muttered three words during the hearing, answering “yes” to Ms Stevenson when asked if she could hear the proceedings and “thank you” when they were completed.

Like Ferry, she did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.

Ms Stevenson adjourned the matters for the briefs to be served.

Anne Broomfield from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court it would take a significant amount of time to prepare the briefs, specifically the matter relating to the charge against Ferry of conspiracy to murder, as it includes a large amount of telephone intercepts which must be transcribed.

Ms Stevenson ordered the briefs be served by January 31, 2011 for reply in Bathurst Local Court in February 28, 2011.

A 17-year-old female also appeared before Bathurst Children’s Court yesterday charged in relation to the matter. Her case was also adjourned and she will re-appear before Bathurst Children’s Court in February.