A mother accused of murdering three of her young children in Melbourne wants to be kept away from other prisoners because she fears their reaction.

Akon Guode allegedly killed one-year-old Bol, his four-year-old sister Hanger and her twin brother Madit when she drove off a road and into Lake Gladman on April 8.

The 36-year-old has been remanded in custody after being charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder.

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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.

Guode stared blankly ahead and looked down into her lap during her brief appearance in court on Tuesday.

She was pulled from the lake on April 8 with her daughter Aluel, 6, who also survived.

The street near the incident and “certain things, driving” have been captured on CCTV, prosecutor Tim Bourbon said.

Mr Zolis requested Guode, of Wyndham Vale, receive professional support while in custody.

“The enormity of the charges and the inability to see her children will have a substantial effect on her,” he told magistrate Frank Jones.

“She has never been incarcerated before, she’s never been in any trouble in her lifetime.”

Several family members of both Guode and her deceased children were in court, including the kids’ father Joseph Tito Manyang.

Mr Manyang was “holding up” and supported Guode along with many others, Mr Zolis said.

“It’s been a traumatic situation for him,” Mr Zolis told reporters outside, while Mr Manyang stood nearby with other relatives.

Guode was “absolutely devastated”, he reiterated.

“She wanted me to tell people, and especially her family and the family of the children, that it has been an extremely, extremely painful experience,” Mr Zolis said.

Guode will reappear in court in December, though Mr Zolis said bail was “something that we need to look at”.

It was too early to give any indication on a plea, he said.

– AAP