Justine Welles is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Bree Desborough. She made her first on-screen appearance on 5 June 1997 and departed on 7 April 2000. Casting The character of Justine was Desborough's first on-going television role. Justine was initially a guest character and Desborough began filming her first scenes in March 1997. She returned as a permanent cast member the following month. In January 2000, it was announced Desborough had decided to leave Home and Away. Development Justine and her brother Aaron (Richie Gudgeon) spent time on the city streets and Justine developed an addiction to drugs. Aaron felt he could not help Justine with her drug habit and ran away to Summer Bay. In 1997, Justine arrives in the Bay to visit Aaron and she tells him she is drug-free and wants to make a fresh start. It soon becomes obvious the story is not true and as Aaron tries to help his sister, she runs away. Justine later returns and is placed in foster care with Pippa Ross (Debra Lawrance). The official Home and Away website said "This time Justine really is off drugs but she is still angry with Aaron—and the world in general. Despite her angry facade, this year Justine will show her more vulnerable side." In 1999, Justine was accused of murdering Ruby Collins (Brittany Jones; Sian Tierney), a young child. The Home and Away writers scripted the storyline after being inspired by the real trials of Louise Woodward and Louise Sullivan. Desborough told Jason Herbision of Inside Soap that she was really excited to read the script and said it was a strong storyline to be working on. Justine decides to take up babysitting as a way of making extra money. She babysits Ruby Collins and notices there are bruises on her rib cage. She confronts Ruby's parents, but they throw her out of the house. Justine is shocked when the police turn up to question her about the child. Desborough explained "The cops arrive and tell Justine the baby is in a coma. They claim that she was in that state when Justine left, which simply isn't true - Justine heard her crying." Justine is taken to the station and changed with assault. Desborough told Annette Dasey of Inside Soap that the situation is "terribly frustrating" for Justine as she knows she did not