Karen Margaret Ryan faces court charged with setting fire to 13-year-old girl’s hair in random attack on bus
A woman has appeared in court to face allegations she launched a shocking random attack that was caught on video.
Police & Courts
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A woman has faced court charged with assault after she allegedly set fire to a 13-year-old girl’s hair in a shocking random attack on public transport.
Karen Margaret Ryan, 49, allegedly set the schoolgirl’s hair alight on a bus travelling through Davoren Park, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, on June 29.
The victim was left with minor burns to her scalp following the attack, but police have said she may also experience mental and emotional trauma.
Ms Ryan is yet to plead to one count of aggravated assault causing harm.
She was not represented by a lawyer during a brief appearance in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Ms Ryan told magistrate Briony Kennewell she would request the matter be transferred to a diversion court because she has mental health issues.
“I’m bipolar and schizo-affected,” she said.
The case was adjourned until February to allow her time to seek legal advice.
She made no comment to reporters as she left court.
CCTV footage released by police after the incident shows a woman boarding the bus at the Elizabeth City Centre Interchange about 3.30pm.
She sits directly behind the young victim, then appears to reach over and set her hair alight.
The girl and her friends run towards the front of the bus before they manage to extinguish the flames.
However, police said the woman involved managed to slip away before they could speak with her.
They said the girl did not know her attacker, and the pair had not spoken to each other in the lead-up to the incident.
An extensive investigation was launched before Ms Ryan was arrested on October 29 – four months later.
She was banned from travelling on public transport for three months following her arrest.
Originally published as Karen Margaret Ryan faces court charged with setting fire to 13-year-old girl’s hair in random attack on bus
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