Renmark High School stabbing: accused remanded in custody after facing court
A RIVERLAND student accused of stabbing a classmate at her high school did not apply for bail and has been remanded in custody.
A RIVERLAND student accused of stabbing a classmate at her high school did not apply for bail and has been remanded in custody.
On Thursday, Amber Brea Rover, 18, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via telephone link to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she is recovering after surgery.
She is charged with one count of aggravated causing serious harm and one count of recklessly causing serious harm.
Andrew Ey, for Rover, told the court that his client would not seek bail before a police prosecutor asked for the case to be adjourned for 14 weeks.
The 17-year-old victim of the attack, whom The Advertiser has chosen not to identify, was in a stable condition in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Wednesday night with her “devastated” family maintaining a bedside vigil.
While her Renmark-based parents were too distressed to speak publicly, friends and neighbours told of their collective horror.
As new details on the attack emerged, Riverland CIB detectives were attempting to establish what caused the stabbing shortly after 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Police have yet to uncover a motive explaining why Rover allegedly “snapped” and stabbed her long-time friend in the back using a knife hidden up her sleeve.
Drug abuse has been ruled out as has a school bullying culture.
Teachers’ bravery was also praised on Wednesday as the Education Department reviewed school security.
Authorities say the unnamed teacher acted heroically as he selflessly kept students safe during the “confrontation” with Rover, who was later detained in the locked-down school grounds.
As students received counselling, locals rallied around the families.
Andrew Ey, defending, on Wednesday told the court his team was awaiting to speak to Rover after surgery.
Friends told The Advertiser how the Year 12 pair appeared happy while sitting together on Monday.
They had reportedly travelled on a school ski trip last week.
Both families have been left “devastated”. Rover’s family, who are believed to have remained in Paringa, are “in the dark about why this occurred”.
A former student, who was friends with the girls, said the alleged assault occurred without warning and the pair had never rowed.
“(The victim) is a very caring, she is the most sensitive person I’ve met,” she said.
“She didn’t deserve what happened to her and I have no idea why it happened because those two girls were good friends. They were sitting together the day before … like everything was normal, and that’s because everything was normal.”
A neighbour described the victim as “a lovely girl” who did not deserve to be attacked.
“The whole family is nice,” she said.
“I just don’t understand why it happened. I just hope she gets well soon.”
Education Minister John Gardner praised principal Mat Evans and his teachers for their “courage”.
“I commend them for their professionalism, resilience and dedication to the safety and wellbeing of their students,” he told Parliament.
Magistrate Alfio Grasso granted Rover permission to seek bail before her next court date in November.
He said the school will “closely examine the events”.
Department chief executive Rick Persse said he was “so proud” for how teachers were “selfless, brave and committed to their students no matter what”.
Trilby Westley, whose daughter attends a nearby child care centre that was locked down, described the attack as “very scary”.