Phillip Shilldarien-Henley, accused of stringing fishing line across Christie Downs footpath, will not have mental incompetence defence, court hears

The man accused of placing fishing line across a footpath – injuring a woman – will not use a mental incompetence defence, a court has heard.

Phillip Andre Kingston Shilldarien-Henley outside court during an earlier appearance. Picture: Tait Schmaal

A young man accused tying fishing line across a footpath, allegedly injuring a person, will not have a mental incompetence defence, a court has heard.

Phillip Andre Kingston Shilldarien-Henley, 24, was charged with three acts likely to cause harm as well as two counts of breaching bail, theft and carrying an offensive weapon.

The most serious charges relate to an incident on Flaxmill Rd at Christie Downs where fishing line was found strung up across a footpath and the driveway of a house on July 28, 2019.

A woman said she suffered a neck injury after walking into the line.

A woman was allegedly injured by fishing line strung up at neck height across at street at Christies Beach in July 2019.

In the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Wednesday lawyer Ross Colthorpe, acting for Shilldarien-Henley said psychiatric reports ordered by the court indicated his client would not have a mental incompetence defence.

However, he did flag with the court that Shilldarien-Henley could argue diminished responsibility for any role in the incident.

A finding of mental incompetence means there are more sentencing options open to the magistrate, including supervision in the community or dismissal of the charge.

The case was adjourned for a month for Mr Colthorpe to seek further advice and negotiate with the prosecution about a series of unrelated charges.