Family allegedly stabbed daughter in ‘attempted honour killing’ at Sefton Plaza, then emptied her bank account, court told

A family subjected their daughter to an “attempted honour killing” over her forbidden love and then drained her bank account while she was in hospital, a court has heard.

A young Muslim woman’s bank account was “drained” of all but 17 cents as she lay in hospital recovering from an “attempted honour killing” by her family, a court has heard.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has also been told the woman had been promised in marriage to her own cousin since the age of 17 – sparking her parents’ anger when she fell in love with a Christian man.

On Tuesday, counsel for the woman’s brother-in-law asked he be released on bail over the alleged stabbing and kidnapping at Sefton Plaza in November.

They argued there was no evidence that proved their client wielded the 15cm knife that inflicted the woman’s “severe” injuries, nor that he “took issue” with her “life choices”.

Police prosecutors opposed that bid, urging the court to consider the “significant” history prior to, and events following, the alleged incident.

“The only way to describe this matter would be as an attempted honour killing,” they said.

“There has been an arrangement, since she was 17, to marry her cousin who lives in northern Pakistan (but) she no longer resides with her family … she’s in a relationship with a Christian man from Sri Lanka.

A man is arrested after the woman was stabbed and forced into a car at Sefton Plaza car park. Picture: 9 News Adelaide

“Her family is strongly opposed to her relationship, and that opposition has become increasingly violent.

“Two brothers broke into the boyfriend’s house two days before the incident, and tracking apps were placed on her phone.

“After this man and (the woman’s) father were arrested, her mother and sister went around to the home of a witness to ‘follow up’ with that person.

“While the victim has been in intensive care in hospital, her bank account has been drained … there’s just 17 cents left in it.”

The brother-in-law, 28, was arrested along with one of the alleged victim’s brothers, 30, and her father, 56, shortly after the incident.

Her sister, 28, who is married to the 28-year-old man, and their mother, 55, were arrested several days later.

The identities of all accused are suppressed while police undertake identity procedures with eyewitnesses.

Police at Sefton Plaza after the woman was stabbed. Picture: 7NEWS

Previously, prosecutors have alleged the woman met her mother, sister and another person at a bus stop at the shopping centre to exchange educational materials.

They further allege the men then joined the group and the woman was stabbed, leaving her “bleeding profusely” from a perforated kidney and lacerated liver.

The woman was allegedly taken back to the family home, against her will, and forced to shower before finally being taken to hospital for treatment.

On Tuesday, counsel for the brother-in-law said their client had arrived in Australia from southern Afghanistan in 2019 and had two young children with his wife.

They asked he be released to care for them, given his wife was also in custody.

However the state’s chief magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, said no form of bail was appropriate given the seriousness of the allegations and the potential threat to the woman.

She remanded the brother-in-law in custody to face court again, alongside the rest of his family, in March.